R.O Lecture 3&4 Flashcards
What is bacterial growth?
Refers to the increase in bacterial cell numbers not cell size
True or Fale, binary fission is the same as mitosis?
False - binary fission is not the same as mitosis
Describe binary fission.
- Duplication of contents and division into 2 cells. Most common method of bacterial cell division
- DNA replication prior to cell division (not a defined cell cycle stage)
- Chromosome attached to cell membrane
- Nucleoids divide
- FtsZ proteins from a Z ring. Seperated cytoplasm
- Transverse septum forms
- 2 daughter cells form.
What are the phases of growth for bacteria?
- Lag phase
- Log Phase
- Stationary Phase
- Decline, or death, phase.
- Lag Phase
- No Significant increase in number
- Metabolically active –Increasing size, ATP production, enzyme synthesis, nutrient uptake
- May use up all storage granules Phase length dependent on species, nutrients and age of culture
2.Log phase
- Organisms have adapted to the media and divide at an exponential/logarithmic rate
- Cells are most active metabolically and most sensitive to adverse conditions (e.g. Antibiotics)
- Do not accumulate inclusion bodies
- Limiting factor: the rate at which ATP can be produced (dependent on nutrient availability, waste levels, space etc.)
inclusion bodies
Inclusion bodies are aggregates of virus particles or virus-induced proteins or special structures characteristic of infection by viruses either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus
Generation time or doubling time (td)
time taken for cells to double their number; usually measured during log phase of growth when cells are growing maximally and most factors are “uniform”: Range 20 min - 20hrs
Chemostat
Device that maintains cells in log phase. Pumps out ‘spent’ medium with high toxin levels, purifies bactera medium.
Achieved by continually replenishing media
Can also be carried out manually
3.Stationary Phase
- Metabolism slows down
Growth rate = Death rate (no overall change in numbers) - Spore-forming bacteria form endospores in this phase
- Granular inclusions and abnormal forms appear in some species
4.Death/Decline Phase
- Media conditions no longer support cell division and cells start to die
- Decreases at a logarithmic rate
- Abnormal cells appear (involution)
- Variable duration (species dependent)
- Endospores may survive, if present
Describe Bacteria biofilms.
- A biofilm consists of a collection of bacteria (and often other microorganisms) that colonise a surface/attach to each other.
- Embedded in a matrix secreted/released by bacteria in the biofilm
- Extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) composition: polysaccharides (capsule/aggregate), proteins, nucleic acids etc.
- Formation -> dispersal
Where are biofilms formed?
-Tooth
-Lung epithelium (CF)
-Medical devices
-Piping
-Natural aquatic habitats
-Plant surfaces
Biofilms - resource capture and digestion
Resource capture and digestion
-Matrix can trap nutrients (accumulation)
-Extracellular digestion by community
Biofilms - Gradients
Gradients:
-localised habitats (pH, oxygen, signalling molecules)
- stabilised by immobilisation of biofilm cells witihin the matrix
What are biofilms resistant to?
- Dessication
- Antibiotics
- Immune system components
Describe the process of Quorum sensing (QS)
- Free swimming cells settle on a surface
- Cells synthesise a viscous matrix that holds them tightly to the substrate
- When only a few cells are present, the concentration of the signaling (induce) molecule is low
- When biofilm grows to a certain desnsity (quorum), the concentraion of the inducer molecules causes expression of specifc genes.
- Genetic Induction - signaling molecules induce expression of a protein product, such as food -digesting enzyme.
- Cells secrete their enzymes in unison to digest food particles.
What are autoinducers? (Als)
- Autoinducers are signaling molecules that are produced in response to changes in cell-population density
- In high cell density populations, Als reach a threshold concentraion, are dected by cells and induce gene expression.
What are the 3 different stages for QS?
Synthesis, Recognition and Response.
- Signals produced by bacteria which induce changes in the population once a concentration threshold is reached.
What enables synchronisation of population response?
Cell-cell communication in bacteria populations
What are some of the processes controlled by QS?
Quorum sensing
Processes controlled by QS include bioluminescence, sporulation, competence, antibiotic production, biofilm formation/dispersal, virulence factor secretion, autoinducer biosynthesis.
Viable cell counts
gauge the numbers of live, metabolically active cells - more informative (Growth dependent tests)
Total counts (viable + dead cells)
include all cells on a bacterial culture. These methods can be quicker to perform and help determine the growth phase of the culture
Serial dilution analysis
To reduce cell numbers to levels allowing accurate estimation
What are the two methods for transferring serial dilutions to agar plates?
- Spread Plate method - Pour 0.1 ml onto surface of pre-poured agar, then spread with a bent rod. Bacterial colonies appear only on surface.
- Pour Plate method - Mix thouroughly and pour entire tube of agar into empty petri dish. Cool to harden and incubate. Some colonies appear on surface; many are below surface.
Adavantage to Pour Plate method - bacteria sensitive to oxygen can still grow below the surface.
How to calculate number of cells from a viable count?
Measuring bacterial titre
Number of cells in Original Sample (CFU/ml)= No. of colonies x Dilution Factor x 10
CFU = Colony forming units.
What method is used to measure bacterial titre of samples which contain too few organisms to give reliable measures?
E.g. Food and water sanitation studies Use the most probable number (MPN) method
-Predicts viable cell count based on results from a dilution series and statistical probability
-Uses a reference table to estimate results
Measuring Bacterial Titre - Filtration
Filtration
* Used to concentrate bacteria from a large dilute sample
* Known volume of air or water are passed through a filter
* Pore size traps bacteria
* Filter placed on solid media and colonies counted
Direct Microscope Count
- Used for a total count
- Petroff-Hausser counter
- Count cells in known volume
- Dilutions may need to be prepared