Systematic Bacteriology Flashcards
Shapes of bacteria
Cocci / Coccus - spherical
Bacilli / bacillus - rod shaped
Vibrio - curved rod
Spirillum - rigid spiral
Spirachaete - flexible spiral
Defensive structures
Spore - inert structures resistant to damage
Capsule - outer layer made of polysaccharides
Aerobic and Anaerobic
Aerobe - grow in oxygen
Obligate Aerobe - can only survive with oxygen present
Facultative Anaerobe - can tolerate oxygen
Obligate Anaerobe - dies if oxygen is present
Selective media
Presence of a specific substance that permits the growth of one organism over another
Differential media
Incorporation of chemicals produces visible changes in colonies allowing identification of organisms
Metabolic profiling + serological tests
Metabolic profiling - biochemical tests
Serological tests - using antibodies to detect surface antigens
DNA technology
PCR - amplification of section of genome
MLST - whole genome sequencing
Virulence
Capacity of microbe to cause damage to its host
Pathogen
Harmful organism that produces a pathology (disease)
Commensal bacteria
An organism that is part of the normal flora
Tests
Haemolysis - differentiates between streptococci
Coagulate test - differentiates coagulate positive staph aureus
Different types of disease
- Protozoan diseases
- Fungal infections
- Prokaryotic pathogens
