Terminology Flashcards
Amount of time it takes to reduce number of microbes by a factor of 10
decimal reduction time
Amount of time it takes to kill all cells at a given temperature
thermal death time
Used to sterilized objects in healthcare, research using steam
autoclave
Region of cell containing the chromosome
Nucleoid
Genes
Segments of genetic material that encode functional protein or RNA
Organism that can only live within the cells of another organism
Endosymbiont
Core genome
Genes present in all members. Usually conserved genes important for biology
All genes present in any member, includes rare genes
Pan genome
Homologous genes arranged in the same order in genomes of closely related lineages
Synteny
Large blocks of genes in a genome? Small?
Genomic island
Genomic islet
Prophage
When bacteriophage integrates into bacterial genome and become part of the genome
Genes carried by prophage, provides host with useful new genes
Cargo gene
Circular DNA molecules replicated in the cytoplasm, encode non-essential accessory genes
Plasmids
Specific position on the chromosome
Genomic locus
Mutations to a single base pair within a protein coding sequence
Point mutations
- silent
- missense
- nonsense (stop codon)
Acquiring new genetic material from the environment
Horizontal gene transfer
- transformation
- transduction
- conjugation
DNA integrated into the chromosome through
recombination
transposition
Multiple different morphologies for the same bacteria
Pleomorphic
One shape observed in most pure cultures
Monomorphic
Lipids in archaea
Isoprenoid
Polymer similar to peptidoglycan, make up “cell wall” in archaea
Pseudomurein
Hamus
Appendage that fixes archaea to a surface or other cells to mediate biofilm formation
Form new bonds in the sugar backbone during cell wall growth in binary fission
Transglycosylases
Form new peptide crosslinks during cell wall growth
Transpeptidases
breaks glycolytic bonds for insertion of new monomers in the cell wall
Autolysins
Live in high salt environments, may require high salt concentrations
Halophiles
Organisms that do not require O2, but grow better with it
Facultative aerobes
Organisms that excel in low O2 environments
Microaerophilic microbes
Chemical that kills or inhibits the growth of
microbes
Antimicrobial agent
Amount of time it takes to reduce number of microbes by a factor of 10
Decimal reduction time
Amount of time it takes to kill all cells at a given temperature
Thermal death time
Symbiosis
A close, long-term interaction between different organisms.
In a symbiotic relationship, organisms can benefit, be harmed or be
unaffected. Often involves co-evolution.
Two or more microbes living in a symbiotic relationship
Microbial consortium
One organism waste is another’s food
Cross feeding
Bacteria resistant to consumption by amoeba
Legionella pneumophila
gel-like glycoprotein substance, serves a barrier function
mucin
Primary fermenters that break down diverse CHO from food
Bacteriodetes
convert fatty acids to acetyl-CoA, which can then be fed into CAC/respiration
beta oxidation
if a better energy source (e.g. glucose) is around, enzymes to use other energy source inhibited/not expressed
Catabolite repression
generate O2 as a biproduct of photosynthesis
Oxygenic
Complexes of proteins & pigments where electrons are excited and
transferred to the ETC
Photosynthetic reaction centers
“light-harvesting complexes” of (bacterio)chlorophylls that capture light energy and transfer to reaction center
Antenna pigments
Bacteria and archaea that can convert N2 to Nh3
Diazotrophs
Enzyme that converts N2 to NH3
Nitrogenase
Enzyme that converts H2 to H+
Hydrogenase
Producing glucose (for carbon/energy storage or as a precursor for biosynthesis) done using
Gluconeogenesis
Pathway that generates ribose-5-P from glucose-6-P. Ribose-5-P can then be used to make ribonucleotides.
Pentose phosphate pathway
Enzyme that converts ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides for DNA synthesis
Ribonucleotide reductase
Breaks glycolytic bonds in CW during division for insertion of new monomers
Autolysins
Bring peptidoglycan precursors across cytoplasmic membrane to remodel CW
Bactoprenol
Two or more microbes living in a symbiotic relationship
Microbial consortium
