Biofilms
A group of microorganisms (like bacteria or fungi) that stick to a surface and surround themselves with a slimy protective layer.
What is biofilm?
What is Mycoprotein?
Cilialted epithelial cells in the respiratory tract beat in unison to move contaminated mucus up toward the mouth.
What is mucociliary escalator?
The ability of the immune system to differentiate between self and non-self and prevent attacks on the body's own cells.
What is tolerance?
The mosquito's natural ability to pick up a pathogen, keep it in its body, and pass it on,
What is vector competence?
Cells located deep inside the biofilm where nutrients are limited.
What is persistor cell?
The process of briefly scalding vegetables to inactivate enzymes before freezing or drying.
What is blanching?
The primary physical barrier composed of multiple layers of epithelial cells.
What is epidermis?
Specialized surface glycoproteins that act as display cases for peptide fragments.
What is major histocompatibility complex (MHC/HLA)?
Products of the Toll, IMD, and JAK-STAT pathways that directly attack viruses and parasites.
What is antimicrobial peptides / cecropins / defensins?
Small chemical signals used by Gram negative bacteria to communicate through quorum sensing.
What is Acyl-homoserine lactone?
Foods preserved and given a sour taste by natural bacteria present on the surface.
What is fermented vegetables (sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles)?
A substance produced by tissue mast cells that cause blood vessels to widen and become more permeable.
What is histamine?
The antibody rarely secreted into the blood and mostly stays tethered to naïve B cells.
What is IgD?
A second infection with a different serotype is significantly more likely to progress to severe dengue and hemorrhagic fever.
What is antibody-dependent enhacement (ADE)?
The master regulator of P. aeruginosa that uses the signal 3-oxo-C12-HSL
What is Las system?
The most common high-risk pathogen that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
What is Norovirus / Norwalk virus?
Essential parts of microbes that don't change over time and can be reliable detected by the immune system.
What is pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)?
What is class switching?
What is the Singapore model (IIT-SIT)?
Sugar, proteins, and DNA that acts like a "glue" and holds a biofilm together.
What is Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS)?
The growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds on a food that produces bad flavors and smells.
What is microbial spoilage?
A protein usually bound to DNA in the nucleus. When released into the extracellular space, it triggers a massive inflammatory response.
What is high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)?
The maturation site of lymphocytes that mediate cellular immunity, kill infected cells, and coordinate the immune response.
What is thymus?
Genetically engineering midgut bacteria to express molecules that kill pathogens before they can be transmitted.
What is paratransgenesis?