Prokaryote Structure & Gram Stain Flashcards

1
Q

Prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in that they do not contain any organelles with _

A

Prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in that they do not contain any organelles with membranes
* They lack a nucleus, ER, mitochondria, golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes
* Bacteria also don’t have any introns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Bacterial DNA is housed in the _ and has _ shape

A

Bacterial DNA is housed in the cytoplasm and has circular shape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

_ are elongated protein filament cylinders that are anchored inside the cell wall and plasma membrane (mostly of gram-negative bacteria)

A

Flagella are elongated protein filament cylinders that are anchored inside the cell wall and plasma membrane (mostly of gram-negative bacteria)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Flagella at one or both ends is called _

A

Flagella at one or both ends is called polar flagella
* Ex: psudomonas aeruginosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Flagella that is all the way around is called _

A

Flagella that is all the way around is called peritrichous
* Ex: salmonella

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Flagella help propel bacterium but they also can help in a regulator response called _

A

Flagella help propel bacterium but they also can help in a regulator response called chemotaxis
* Chemotaxis is movement towards or away from certain chemicals in the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

_ appear as tiny hairs around a bacterium and they are more common in gram-negative species

A

Pili appear as tiny hairs around a bacterium and they are more common in gram-negative species

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Two special functions of pili are _ and _

A

Two special functions of pili are adhesion and resistance
* Adhesions on the tips of pili allow bacterium to attach to surfaces in the environment
* R-pili are involved in drug resistance transfer via bacterial conjugation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

The _ provides a barrier from the external environment, prevents osmolysis, and determines whether the bacteria will stain gram positive or negative

A

The cell envelope provides a barrier from the external environment, prevents osmolysis, and determines whether the bacteria will stain gram positive or negative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The capsule is a component of both gram-positive and negative bacteria and it is composed of _ and _

A

The capsule is a component of both gram-positive and negative bacteria and it is composed of glycoproteins and glycolipids
* Its main function is to defend against host immune responses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

The outer (lipid) membrane is found in _ bacteria and is formed by a glycolipid layer which primarily contains _

A

The outer (lipid) membrane is found in gram-negative bacteria and is formed by a glycolipid layer which primarily contains lipopolysaccharide (LPS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

LPS is a _ disaccharide that forms a barrier to hydrophobic molecules

A

LPS is a glucosamine disaccharide that forms a barrier to hydrophobic molecules
* Contributes to the outer membrane’s selective permeability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The _ is a rigid structure made up of peptidoglycan; it forms a strong exoskeleton that helps to prevent lysis in hypotonic/isotonic solutions

A

The cell wall is a rigid structure made up of peptidoglycan; it forms a strong exoskeleton that helps to prevent lysis in hypotonic/isotonic solutions
* Both gram-positive and gram-negative have a cell wall
* If the peptidoglycan is damaged, the bacterium will lyse from the pressure of the internal cytoplasm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The cytoplasmic lipid membrane is similar to the cell membrane of eukaryotic cells, however, it does not contain _ (with the exception of mycoplasma)

A

The cytoplasmic lipid membrane is similar to the cell membrane of eukaryotic cells, however, it does not contain sterols (with the exception of mycoplasma)
* Both gram-positive and gram-negative have this

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The outer membrane is only found in _ bacteria

A

The outer membrane is only found in gram-negative bacteria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Because _ bacteria don’t have an outer membrane, their cell walls are much thicker

A

Because gram-positive bacteria don’t have an outer membrane, their cell walls are much thicker

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The thick gram-positive cell walls contain anionic polymers, _ and _ to provide reinforcement and structural integrity to the cell walls

A

The thick gram-positive cell walls contain anionic polymers, teichoic acids and lipoteichoic acids to provide reinforcement and structural integrity to the cell walls

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

In prokaryotes, the _ is simply all of the space within the cytoplasmic lipid membrane

A

In prokaryotes, the cytoplasm is simply all of the space within the cytoplasmic lipid membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

The only structure found in prokaryote’s cytoplasm is _ ; and it is the area that contains the circular bacterial chromosome

A

The only structure found in prokaryote’s cytoplasm is nucleoid ; and it is the area that contains the circular bacterial chromosome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

“Competent” bacteria have the ability to absorb naked DNA from the environment and integrate it into the bacterial chromosome via _

A

“Competent” bacteria have the ability to absorb naked DNA from the environment and integrate it into the bacterial chromosome via homologous recombination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Bacteria that must have oxygen to grow are called _

A

Bacteria that must have oxygen to grow are called obligate aerobes

22
Q

Bacteria that cannot grow in the presence of oxygen are _

A

Bacteria that cannot grow in the presence of oxygen are obligate anaerobes

23
Q

Bacteria that can grow with or without oxygen are called _

A

Bacteria that can grow with or without oxygen are called facultative anaerobes
* They can switch between states

24
Q

Obligate anaerobes lack _ and _ which protect bacteria from oxygen free radicals

A

Obligate anaerobes lack superoxide dismutase and catalase which protect bacteria from oxygen free radicals
* Some antibiotics take advantage of this

25
Q

Bacteria that only grow when specific nutrients are present (such as iron, CO2) are called _

A

Bacteria that only grow when specific nutrients are present (such as iron, CO2) are called fastidious bacteria

26
Q

Pathogenic bacteria that require free iron for survival are capable of excreting _ compounds to bind iron and steal it from the blood and tissue proteins

A

Pathogenic bacteria that require free iron for survival are capable of excreting chelating compounds to bind iron and steal it from the blood and tissue proteins
* Chelating compounds are known as siderophores

27
Q

Bacteria that cause human infections only replicate through _

A

Bacteria that cause human infections only replicate through binary fission
* The chromosome of a single bacterium is replicated –> division of the cytoplasm into two equal daughter cells

28
Q

Some bacteria can transform into _ when they are in adverse conditions without nutrients; they become dormant, withstand harsh conditions, and become reactivated when the environment is more favorable

A

Some bacteria can transform into spores when they are in adverse conditions without nutrients; they become dormant, withstand harsh conditions, and become reactivated when the environment is more favorable –> called sporulation
* Example: bacillus, clostridium

29
Q

Infants cannot have honey because they have immature digestive systems that can’t clear out the spores of _ that can contaminate honey

A

Infants cannot have honey because they have immature digestive systems that can’t clear out the spores of clostridium botulinum that can contaminate honey
* Spores can germinate and grow toxin-forming bacteria
* This is called infant botulism
* The first sign is usually constipation, then respiratory distress, lack of facial expression, drooling, muscle weakness can follow

30
Q

In _ phase, bacteria mature and adapt to the growth environment; reproduction is slow

A

In lag phase, bacteria mature and adapt to the growth environment; reproduction is slow

31
Q

_ is the period of rapid bacterial growth; the new cells created is proportional to the number of bacteria –> this phase continues until bacteria run out of resources

A

Exponential growth phase is the period of rapid bacterial growth; the new cells created is proportional to the number of bacteria –> this phase continues until bacteria run out of resources

32
Q

When the bacteria runs out of nutrients, accumulates toxic waste, or runs out of space, it enters the _ phase

A

When the bacteria runs out of nutrients, accumulates toxic waste, or runs out of space, it enters the stationary phase

33
Q

During the _ stage, the number of new bacteria appearing and dying is roughly the same

A

During the stationary stage, the number of new bacteria appearing and dying is roughly the same

34
Q

The _ phase is when the bacterial population diminishes and eventually dies

A

The death phase is when the bacterial population diminishes and eventually dies

35
Q

Bacterial infections in humans are measured in [unit]

A

Bacterial infections in humans are measured in colony forming units (CFUs)

acute infection

36
Q

When stained, _ bacteria will appear purple/blue

A

When stained, gram-positive bacteria will appear purple/blue
* Their thick peptidoglycan cell walls retain the crystal violet die-iodine complex after the decolorizing step
* Ex: Staphylococcus

37
Q

When stained, _ bacteria will appear pink

A

When stained, gram-negative bacteria will appear pink
* They only retain the safranin stain so they appear pink
* Ex: E.coli

38
Q

Atypical bacteria are gram nonreactive and don’t retain any dye from the staining process; instead we must use _ staining

A

Atypical bacteria are gram nonreactive and don’t retain any dye from the staining process; instead we must use acid-fast staining
* Ex: Chlamydiaceae, Legionella, Mycobacteria, Nocardia

39
Q

Acid-fast bacteria have large amounts of _ in their cell walls

A

Acid-fast bacteria have large amounts of mycolic acid in their cell walls
* Carbol fuchsin dye is used –> it dyes all cells, but once the cells are washed with acid alcohol, only acid-fast bacteria will be bright red

40
Q

The most common method for endospore staining is _

A

The most common method for endospore staining is Schaeffer-Fulton method
* Bacteria is stained with malachite green (binds spores) then counterstained with safranin
* Spores will be green and bacteria pink
* Ex: Clostridium, bacillus (including B anthracis)

41
Q

How do we visualize capsules?

A

Capsules do not bind to most dyes; we can stain the background with India ink or nigrosine –> then the bacteria can be counterstained

42
Q

How does LPS activate systemic immune reactions?

A

LPS interacts with immune cell receptors –> leads to release of cytokines and inflammatory factors –> blood vessel dilation, increased permeability

43
Q

_ are a more elongated coccobacillus, rod-shaped, like a hot dog

A

Bacillus are a more elongated coccobacillus, rod-shaped, like a hot dog

44
Q

_ are spherical bacteria

A

Coccus are spherical bacteria

45
Q

_ are an intermediate between cocci and bacilli that look like short rods/ ovals

A

Coccobacillus are an intermediate between cocci and bacilli that look like short rods/ ovals

46
Q

_ are curved/ comma shaped

A

Vibrio are curved/ comma shaped

47
Q

_ are wavy shaped bacteria

A

Spirillum are wavy shaped bacteria

48
Q

_ are a twisted shape like the threads on a screw

A

Spirochete are a twisted shape like the threads on a screw

49
Q

_ are bacteria that form pairs

A

Diploids are bacteria that form pairs
* ex: Neisseria

50
Q

_ are bacteria that form short, single-file lines

A

Chains are bacteria that form short, single-file lines
* Streptococcus

51
Q

_ are bacteria that bunch together like grapes

A

Clusters are bacteria that bunch together like grapes
* ex: Staphylococcus

52
Q

_ are bacteria that form long thread-like filaments

A

Hyphae are bacteria that form long thread-like filaments
* ex: Nocardia