Nutritional requirements for bacteria

Question 1

What are macronutrients(for bacteria)?

Answer 1

For bacteria:
Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorous
Form membranes, proteins, nucleic acid, other structures of the cell

Question 2

What are micronutrients(for bacteria)?

Answer 2

For bacteria:
B vitamins, trace elements, growth factors
Enable enzymes to catalyze biochemical reactions

Question 3

What are autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Answer 3

Autotrophs:
They produce their own food
Carbon source: Use inorganic substances to form organic substances

Heterotrophs:
They cannot produce food on their own
Carbon source: Use organic substances

Question 4

What are phototrophs and chemotrophs?

Answer 4

Phototrophs:
Use energy from the sunlight to make food

Chemotrophs:
Use energy from chemical reactions to make food

Question 5

What are hyperthermophiles?

Answer 5

Bacteria which can thrive in an environment of 80°C and upwards

Question 6

What are mesophiles?

Answer 6

Bacteria which can thrive in an environment of 20°C - 40°C

Question 7

What are thermophiles?

Answer 7

Bacteria which can thrive in an environment of 45°C - 80°C

Question 8

What are cryophiles?

Answer 8

Bacteria which can thrive in an environment of -5°C/0°C - 15°C

Question 9

What are psychrophiles?

Answer 9

Bacteria which can thrive in an environment of 0°C/7°C - 20°C/30°C

Question 10

What are obligate aerobes?

Answer 10

Bacterial growth only occurs where a high concentration of oxygen is present
Bacterial growth is concentrated at the top of thioglycollate broth
Only can grow in the presence of oxygen

Question 11

What are facultative anaerobes?

Answer 11

Bacteria grows best where the most oxygen is present but can also grow in the absence of it
Bacterial growth is observed throughout the thioglycollate broth but is more concentrated at the top
Can grow in both the presence and absence of oxygen

Question 12

What are aerotolerant anaerobes?

Answer 12

Oxygen has no effect on bacterial growth

Bacterial growth is observed throughout the thioglycollate broth

Question 12

What are obligate anaerobes?

Answer 12

Bacteria grow only where there is no oxygen
Bacterial growth is concentrated at the bottom of the thioglycollate broth
Can only grow in the absence of oxygen

Question 13

What are microaerophiles?

Answer 13

Bacteria grow only where a low concentration of oxygen is present
Bacterial growth is observed only at the position near the top of the thioglycollate broth