Paul Wade: Medical Microbiology Flashcards
What is archae?
Type of prokaryote, found in extreme environments.
They have different cell wall and lipid components and ribosomal RNA sequences to bacteria
What is the difference between eukayrotic and prokaryotic cells?
Prokaryotic cells do not have an ER, golgi apparatus, mitochondria, nucelus or lysosome
Prokaryotic cells only possess a single circular chromosome.
Prokaryotic ribosomes are 70s (their units are 50s and 30s) whereas eukaryotic ribosomes are 80s (their units are 40s and 60s)
Prokaryotic membranes do not contain sterols e.g. cholesterol
In what ways can you classify and identify bacteria?
- Biochemical classification- statistical analysis of ~ 50 physical and chemical characteristics
- DNA composition- calculating mol % of DNA bases
- DNA homology- extent to which DNA sequences vary, measured by genome sequence and sequence typing
- 16s RNA sequencing
- Chemical composition- MALDI-TOF for rapid diagnostics:
Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionisation Time- Time of Flight
Applies mass spec and see how long it takes for sample to hit the signal which is a quicker method than growing the organism
What is the difference between gram -ve and gram +ve bacteria?
Gram +ve:
- Thick cell wall
- More peptidoglycan that retains the stain
- Lipoteichoic acids transversing wall and anchored in membrane
Gram -ve:
- Tiny amount of bacterial cell wall
- Thin peptidoglycan layer
- Contains porins and lipid A
- Pores allow certain molecules through
What are ribosomes made from?
rRNA and protein
What does the ribosome consist of?
Small 30s subunit binds mRNA
Large 50s subunit has binding sites for two tRNAs
What is transcription?
- Genetic code from DNA to mRNA via RNA polymerase
- Correct sequence of bases for polypeptide is found on + DNA
- mRNA copy is taken from -DNA strand to form + RNA
How is a mutation induced?
- UV radiation which causes covalent cross-links between adjacent pyrimidines (causing deletions)
- Ionising radiation causes hydrolysis of phosphodiester backbone and cannot repair itself causing deletions or insertions
- Nitrous acid deaminates A and C forming uracil and hypoxanthine from adenine). Will carry substitution mutations as hypoxanthine will pair with C and not T
GC to AT and AT to GC
Are bacteria haploid or diploid?
Haploid so have no homologous chromosome to mask the effect of mutation
How can drug resistance occur other than mutations?
Genetic recombination via horizontal gene transfer via transduction/conjugation/transformation
Cannot occur through sexual production as bacteria progeny are clones
What are T-phages?
Infect host bacteria via injectin of their DNA through their baseplate and contractile tail
What are bacteriophages?
Viruses that infect bacteria
What are the two types of phage injection?
- Virulent (lysis of host cell)
2. Temperate (lysogeny)
what is the bacteriophage lytic cycle?
- Mature virion injects onto the host cell and its viral coded enzymes degrade host DNA.
- Replication of viral DNA and protein takes place
- New virions are assembled within the host cell
- Host cell is lysed and virions are released
What is the bacteriophage lysogenic cycle?
- Mature virion injects onto the host cell, penetrates and injects DNA
- Viral DNA circularises and is incorporated into the host genome
- Viral genome produces an inhibitor cI which inhibits lytic cycle
- Under stress, cro protein induces lytic cycle and new virions are assembled
Summarise lysogenic conversion
- Incorporation of lysogenic
(temperate) phages into bacterial chromosomes sometimes results in
expression of phage genes. - These may act as toxins when expressed
Examples:
- Infection of E. coli by phage
λ leads to production of a toxin causing haemorrhagic diarrhoea - Infection of Vibrio cholerae by CTX phage, results in cholera toxin secretion.
- Infection of C. botulinum by
clostridial phages cause botox
secretion
Summarise conjugation
- Occurs between opposite mating types (F+ forms attachment pilus and a conjugation tube to join with F-)
- Plasmids are transferred in this way and they both become F+
Summarise transformation
- Exogenous DNA uptake
What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs
Autotroph - organism that needs hydrogen to reduced CO2 to CH2O
Heterotroph- organism that obtains hydrogen from organic molecules