The Host-Parasite Relationship Flashcards
What is normal flora?
Normal flora refers to the diverse community of microorganisms that reside on and within the human body.
True or False: Normal flora is harmful to the human body.
False: Normal flora is typically beneficial and plays a role in maintaining health.
Name one body region that has a distinct microbiota.
The skin.
What type of bacteria predominantly colonizes the skin?
Staphylococcus species.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is home to a rich microbiota that includes Lactobacillus species.
vagina
Which body region is primarily associated with Bacteroides species?
The gastrointestinal tract.
True or False: The oral cavity has no microbiota.
False: The oral cavity has a diverse microbiota including Streptococcus species.
What is the role of normal flora in the gastrointestinal tract?
Normal flora aids in digestion and protects against pathogens.
Name one factor that can alter normal flora.
Antibiotic use.
Which body region has a unique microbiota that can vary greatly among individuals?
The gut.
What is the term for the balance of microorganisms in the body?
Microbiome homeostasis.
Fill in the blank: The _______ is colonized by microorganisms such as Escherichia coli.
intestine
True or False: Normal flora can help prevent the colonization of harmful pathogens.
True.
What type of flora is primarily found in the respiratory tract?
Predominantly Streptococcus and Neisseria species.
Which body region’s microbiota is influenced by diet and lifestyle?
The gastrointestinal tract.
Name one benefit of maintaining a healthy normal flora.
Enhanced immune function.
What is dysbiosis?
Dysbiosis refers to an imbalance in the microbial community.
Which body region is associated with high levels of Propionibacterium species?
The skin.
True or False: The urinary tract is sterile and has no microbiota.
False: The urinary tract has a small but significant microbiota.
What is one method researchers use to study normal flora?
Metagenomic sequencing.
Fill in the blank: The _______ flora can change with age and health status.
gut
What is a common method for sampling microbiota from the skin?
Swabbing with sterile cotton swabs.
Which bacteria are commonly found in the mouth?
Streptococcus mutans.
What is the impact of probiotics on normal flora?
Probiotics can help restore and maintain healthy microbial balance.
True or False: Normal flora is the same across all individuals.
False: Normal flora varies significantly from person to person.
What is a symbiotic relationship?
A close and long-term interaction between two different species.
Name the three main types of symbiotic relationships.
Mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
True or False: In mutualism, both species benefit.
True
What type of symbiotic relationship is characterized by one species benefiting while the other is neither helped nor harmed?
Commensalism.
Fill in the blank: In __________, one species benefits at the expense of the other.
Parasitism.
Provide an example of a mutualistic relationship.
Bees and flowering plants.
What is an example of commensalism?
Barnacles attaching to whales.
True or False: Parasites are always larger than their hosts.
False
What is the primary characteristic of a parasite?
It lives on or in a host and derives nutrients at the host’s expense.
Which type of symbiotic relationship involves both species receiving benefits?
Mutualism.
Name a common example of a parasite.
Tapeworm.
What is the role of symbionts in mutualism?
Both species provide resources or services that benefit each other.
In which type of symbiotic relationship does one species benefit while the other is harmed?
Parasitism.
Provide an example of a parasitic relationship.
Fleas feeding on a dog.
True or False: Commensalism can be beneficial to the host.
False
What is a defining feature of commensalism?
One organism benefits while the other is unaffected.
Give an example of a mutualistic relationship in agriculture.
Mycorrhizal fungi and plant roots.
What type of organism is a symbiont?
An organism that participates in a symbiotic relationship.
Identify a type of parasite that lives outside its host.
Ectoparasite.
Identify a type of parasite that lives inside its host.
Endoparasite.
True or False: Mutualism can lead to coevolution.
True
What is one benefit that bees provide to flowering plants in mutualism?
Pollination.
Fill in the blank: __________ is a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed.
Parasitism.
What is a common characteristic of ectoparasites?
They live on the surface of their host.
What ecological role do decomposers play that can be seen as a form of commensalism?
They break down dead organic matter, benefiting from the nutrients while not affecting the dead organisms.
Fill in the blank: In a __________ relationship, both species are negatively affected.
Competition.
What is the difference between mutualism and commensalism?
In mutualism, both species benefit; in commensalism, one benefits and the other is unaffected.
What is the definition of infection?
Infection is the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a host organism.
True or False: Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
True
What are the four main types of pathogens that can cause infection?
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Fill in the blank: A ________ infection is caused by multicellular organisms like worms.
helminthic
What is the primary difference between bacterial and viral infections?
Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria, while viral infections are caused by viruses.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is a common symptom of infection? A) Fever B) Rash C) Fatigue D) All of the above
D) All of the above
What type of pathogen is Candida an example of?
Fungal pathogen
True or False: Parasitic infections can only be caused by single-celled organisms.
False
What is the process by which a virus enters a host cell?
Viral entry
Fill in the blank: Bacteria reproduce primarily through ________.
binary fission
What is the role of the immune system in infection?
The immune system detects and responds to pathogens to eliminate them from the body.
Multiple choice: Which of the following is a characteristic of viral infections? A) They can reproduce on their own B) They require a host cell to replicate C) They are always treatable with antibiotics D) None of the above
B) They require a host cell to replicate
What is the term for the stage of infection where pathogens are present but not causing symptoms?
Asymptomatic infection
True or False: Fungal infections can be superficial or systemic.
True
What is the term for an organism that lives on or in a host and benefits at the host’s expense?
Parasite
Fill in the blank: The process of infection can be broken down into several stages, including ________, adherence, invasion, and colonization.
entry
What is a common method of transmission for bacterial infections?
Direct contact, respiratory droplets, or contaminated surfaces.
Multiple choice: Which type of pathogen often requires vector organisms for transmission? A) Bacteria B) Fungi C) Viruses D) Parasites
D) Parasites
What are some common examples of viral infections?
Influenza, HIV, and COVID-19.
True or False: All fungal infections are contagious.
False
What is the primary mechanism by which helminths cause disease?
By competing for nutrients and causing physical damage to host tissues.
Fill in the blank: The body’s first line of defense against infection includes ________ barriers such as skin and mucous membranes.
physical
What is the term for the study of infectious diseases?
Infectious disease epidemiology
Multiple choice: Which of the following is NOT a type of fungal infection? A) Candidiasis B) Ringworm C) Malaria D) Aspergillosis
C) Malaria
What is the most common route of entry for pathogens into the human body?
Mucous membranes, particularly through the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
What is the primary purpose of identifying microbes?
To determine the species and understand the role of microbes in various environments.
True or False: Microscopic examination is one of the standard methods for identifying microbes.
True
Fill in the blank: The _____ method uses specific biochemical reactions to identify microbes.
biochemical
What is the role of culture techniques in microbial identification?
To isolate and grow microbes for further analysis.
Which method involves the use of staining techniques to visualize microbes under a microscope?
Microscopic examination
Name one common staining technique used in microbial identification.
Gram staining
What does a Gram-positive result indicate?
The presence of a thick peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a biochemical test used for microbial identification? A) Catalase Test B) PCR C) Streak Plate D) None of the above
A) Catalase Test
True or False: Molecular methods are not commonly used for microbial identification.
False
What is PCR an abbreviation for?
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Fill in the blank: The _____ method involves the analysis of microbial DNA to identify species.
molecular
Which method is particularly useful for identifying microbes that are difficult to culture?
Molecular methods
What is a common application of the culture method?
To determine antibiotic susceptibility.
Multiple Choice: Which method provides the fastest identification of microbes? A) Culture Techniques B) Microscopic Examination C) Molecular Methods D) Biochemical Tests
C) Molecular Methods
What is the significance of the oxidase test in microbial identification?
It differentiates between oxidase-positive and oxidase-negative bacteria.
True or False: Molecular methods can only identify bacteria and not viruses.
False
Fill in the blank: The _____ method relies on the growth characteristics of microbes.
culture
What is the purpose of performing a streak plate?
To isolate individual colonies of microbes.
Name one advantage of using molecular methods for identification.
High specificity and sensitivity.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a standard method for identifying microbes? A) Microscopic Examination B) Biochemical Testing C) Thermal Imaging D) Molecular Methods
C) Thermal Imaging
What is the aim of the Gram stain procedure?
To classify bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative.
True or False: Biochemical tests can provide information about the metabolic capabilities of a microbe.
True
Fill in the blank: The _____ method is often the first step in identifying a microbe from a clinical sample.
culture
What type of information can molecular methods provide about a microbe?
Genetic information and phylogenetic relationships.
What is the importance of using multiple methods for microbial identification?
To increase accuracy and reliability of the identification.
