Module 5 Flashcards
why are bacteria important in marine environments
they are the base of the food chain and are major players in controlling the health of the ecosystem, decompose waste generated by others
what function do marine viruses serve in coral reefs
lysis of their hosts released dissolved and particulate organic matter into the water column for other species to use
microbes and plants are most commonly associated with the___
roots/rhizosphere
what is important for the formation of biofilms
quorum sensing (autoinducers) to induce communication between microbes
what is an example of interspecies biofilm
dental plaque
what is biofouling
when biofilms occur on man made surfaces (such as boat or pipe)
what is the concern with bacterial streamers
that they will block flow of liquid through a device such as a tube/catheter
what are normal flora
the organisms that live on and in our body as commensal microbes (also includes fungi - mycobiota)
features of the mycobiota
more dynamic than the microbiota
make up a smaller component of the flora
limited diversity on skin but high diversity on inside
variable environmental sources
influenced/regulated by microbes
how is the normal flora first established in the human body
Newborns acquire microbes from their mothers
* Colonize oral, nasopharyngeal cavities, then GI tract
* Colonization impacted by mode of birth, diet
Early in life, gut microbiota impacted by many factors
* Later in life, flora is more stable (apart from temporary
perturbations)
what are Two Component Signal Transduction Systems (TCS)
they detect changes in the environment, how the bacteria sense their surroundings
After detection of change outside of the cell, the TCS signals via a series of phosphorylation-dependent, post-translational, activation events
what are the two components of TCS
the histidine kinase and the response regulator
What is the role of bacterial secretion systems in pathogenicity?
Bacterial secretion systems transport toxins, adhesins, enzymes, and other factors to the cell surface or directly into host cells, aiding in infection establishment and virulence.
How does bacterial secretion help in masking the bacterium from the immune system?
Secretion of surface components like toxins and adhesins can shield the bacterium from immune detection and facilitate adherence to tissues, enhancing infection.
What is the role of bacterial secretion in iron sequestration?
Some bacteria secrete proteins to sequester iron from the environment, which is critical for bacterial growth and survival, particularly in iron-limited conditions.
