November 25 Flashcards
High G-C
Old terminology associated with Gram positive bacteria
>50% G-C (actinobacteria)
Low G-C
Old terminology associated with Gram positive bacteria
<50% G-C
Nonsporulating Gram Positive Examples
Staphylococcus, Mircococcus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus
Staphylococcus
Aerobic cocci
Resistant to reduced H2O production
Salt Tolerant

Micrococcus
Aerobic cocci
Resistant to reduced H2O production
Salt tolerant
Can be pigmented

Staphylococcus aureus
Gram Positive
Aerobic
Opportunistic pathogen
20% of the population carries it in the nasal cavity

Micrococcus luteus
Gram Positive
Aerobic
Pigmentation is produced at optimum temperature (yellow)

Sarcina
Gram Positive
Obligate anaerobe
Extremely acid tolerant
Found in the stomach of monogastrous animals
Forms packets of 8 cells (cubes)

Streptococcus
Gram Positive
Homofermentive
Chains of cocci
Used in production of buttermilk and silage
Pathogenic (sometimes)

Streptococcus pyrogenes
“flesh eating”
Necrotizing faciitis

Enterococcus
Gram positive
Fecal origin
Opportunistic pathogen

Enterococcus faecalis
Part of natural microflora
Opportunistic pathogen
Nosocomial infections including UTIs and endocarditis

Lactobacillus
Gram Positive rods
Resistant to low pH (as low as 4)
Common in dairy products
Ferment milk (yogurt)

Endospore Forming Gram Positive Examples
Bacillus, Clostridium
Endospore-forming Gram Positive Bacteria
Usually found in soil, the endospore is advantagous
Bacillus
Gram positive rod
endospore forming
Can produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes to breakdown various molecules

Bacillus thuringiensis
Gram positive
Endospore-forming
Naturally produces insect larvicide
BT GMO crops: genes for these enzymes are put into a plant

Two ways to genetically modify a plant
- Gene gun
- Use of Agrobacterium tumefociens
How is a gene gun used to genetically modify a plant?
Gold or platinum particles are coated with a gene of interest which is then shot into plant tissue. The undifferentiated plant tissue (callus) is placed on agar with hormones to produce leaves, stems, roots, etc
How is Agrobacterium tumefaciens used to genetically modify plants?
A. tumefaciens is the cause of crown gall disease, it inserts its tumor-inducing genes inot the plant’s genome to “feed” off of the plant. For genetic modification, the tumor inducing genes are replaced with genes of interest.
Antibiotic resistance could be added to seperate modified plants from not modified plants. The plant leaf sections are placed on agar with antibiotics, if it grows modification was a sucess.

Clostidium
Gram positive
Endospore-forming
Anaerobic
Found in soil, mammalian GI tract
Some are pathogenic and some produce potent toxins

Clostridium botulinum
Gram positive
Endospore-forming
Anaerobic
Associated with soil
Botulism toxin is the most potent toxin, blocks neuro-muscular junction resulting in paralysis (flaccid paralysis)
Death results from paralysis of diaphragm
Two types:
- Adult botulism: comsume food with toxins present
- Infant botulism: vegetative cells grow in intestines and produce toxins
