W1 Introductory Microbiology

Question 1

what are protists

Answer 1

single celled eukaryotes

have compartmentalisation of functions in organelles like ER and nucleus

metabolically limited

Question 2

properties of bacteria

Answer 2

usually single-celled with cell-wall containing peptidoglycan

lack membrane bound nucleus but have nuclear region

Question 3

properties of archaea

Answer 3

unique rRNA sequences that differ from bacteria

lack peptidoglycan in cell wall, unique membrane lipids

some have unusual metabolic charcateristics

some live in extreme environments

Question 4

what are some acellular infectious agents

Answer 4

viruses:
- smallest of all microbes
- requires host cell to replicate
- causes range of diseases

viroids: infectious encapsulated RNA > only infect plants

prions: infectious proteins > infect body and self replicate

Question 5

traits of living organisms

Answer 5

cell membrane and organisation

response to environmental changes

growth and development

biological evolution

energy use and metabolism

regulation and homeostasis

reproduction

Question 6

who created the first microscope

Answer 6

antony von leeuwenhoek

Question 7

what was Louis Pasteur responsible for

Answer 7

first to connect microorganisms and disease, growth and metabolic products

discovered fermentation by micro-organisms

developed pasteartization to avoid wine/milk spoilage my microbes

disproving spontaneous generation

Question 8

who is John tyndall

Answer 8

created tndallization > process of successive heating and cooling to kill heat resistant spores

Question 9

who is rober koch

Answer 9

established relationship between bacillus anthracis and anthrax

discovered cause of tuberculosis

Question 10

what are the points of Koch postulates (demonstration that a bacteria Is pathogenic)

Answer 10

1. disease causing organisms must always be present in animals suffering from the disease but not in healthy animals
2. the organism must be cultivated in a pure culture away from the animal body
3. the isolated organism must cause the disease when inoculated into healthy susceptible animals
4. the organism must be isolated from the newly infected animals and cultures again in the lab > should be seen to be the same as original organism

Question 11

importance of microbes

Answer 11

contribute to functioning of the biosphere > major role in recycling essential elements

base of ecological food web

contain 50% of biological carbon and 90% of biological nitrogen on earth

production of food, antibiotics, vitamins etc

Question 12

where was the relationship between microorganisms and disease established in

Answer 12

commercial insects and crops

Question 13

different types of microbial media

Answer 13

complex: contain nutrient-rich ingredients with an undefined chemical composition > culture variety of microorganisms

enrichment: contain additional nutrients to help certain bacteria grow

selective: contain components which select for a specific species or group of organisms

differential: contain media components to allow different groups to be differentiated

minimal: minimal quantity of all components which produce detectable growth