MMI 133

Question 1

Five categories of microbiology

Answer 1

bacteriology: study of bacteria
virology: study of viruses
mycology: study of fungi and yeast
parasitology: study of Protozoa (amoeba) and metazoan (worms)
immunology: study of immunity

Question 2

Relative size of organisms

Answer 2

Smallest: prions and viruses
- require electron microscope
- virus tends to be 100X smaller than bacteria

Micro/macroscopic: bacteria and fungi
- require light microscope to magnify 1000X

Largest: mammals and parasites

Question 3

Prions

Answer 3

infectious proteins that have been misfiled and don’t function properly

Question 4

Do we need bacteria?

Answer 4

we have a complex ecosystem in our bodies where we provide shelter and nutrients to bacteria and they provide services.
Live in symbiosis with them is important.

Question 5

Benefits of bacteria

Answer 5

Vitamin K (blood clotting) and vitamin B12 (production of RBC in bone marrow) production

Digestion: break down glycans to usable sugar in milk.

Question 6

Cons of bacteria

Answer 6

Imbalance in bacterial flora due to antibiotics
Some have virulence factors which cause tissue damage.

Question 7

Bacterial flora

Answer 7

bacteria in the large intestine.

Question 8

virulence factors

Answer 8

traits of a microbe that promote pathogenicity
- usually molecules.