Vocabulary
What do Koch's Postulates do?
Guidelines for how to identify a causative agent of disease
What staining method is needed for identification of Mycobacterium and Nocardia species specifically?
Acid-Fast staining.... the only way we can break through those mycolic cell walls.
What makes the innate immune system different from the adaptive immune system?
Innate is things we are born with -- barriers and immune cells (leukocytes)
Adaptive is something we learn or train our body for. The response is specific to the pathogen and generates immunological memory.
This key component of bacterial cell walls is built through transpeptidation.
Peptidoglycan
Which famous scientist is known for developing aseptic technique and the groundwork for modern-day pasteurization?
Louis Pasteur
In taxonomy, domains are considered the broadest category. What is the narrowest category?
Species
(Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, genus, Species)
What stains and reagents are used in the gram stain?
Crystal Violet
Mordant (Iodine)
Ethanol (decolorizer)
Safranin
What macromolecule is our chief source of energy?
Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms. This means that they do not have a ____________.
Nucleus
(or any other membrane-bound organelles)
MRSA has developed resistance to penicillins. What enzyme can it produce that gets rid of penicillin?
beta-lactamases
What is a pure culture?
A culture free of contaminants-- only ONE organism present
When a bacteria can ferment a sugar (like glucose or lactose) we see the media in our tube turn from red to yellow. Why?
Fermentation often produces ACID as a byproduct which changes the color of a pH indicator in the media.
Both humans and bacteria can undergo cellular respiration. What are the key steps that occur in it?
Glycolysis, Intermediate step, krebs, ETC
Bacterial motility can be provided by what organelles?
Flagella, cilia, pili
Elements can be identified by the number of ___________ in their atomic nucleus.
Protons
What is BINARY FISSION?
Asexual replication of bacterial cells.
What is the goal of Wheal-and-Flare test?
Tests for allergic responses
What are the benefits of our human microbiome?
Aid in digestion
Production of vitamins or metabolites that we need
Trains our immune system
Protects us from infections
What are virulence factors?
features that increase a bacteria's virulence (adhesion, invasion, nutrient acquisition...)
What are the building blocks of proteins?
Amino Acids
What is the difference between transcription and translation?
Transcription: DNA- mRNA
Translation: mRNA - Protien
What is recombinant DNA?
Engineered DNAs (often plasmids that we can insert a gene of interest into for expression in bacteria)
How does the humoral branch of adaptive immunity work to eliminate pathogens?
Antibodies:
-neutralize the antigen
-activates complement
-increases phagocytosis of the target (precipitation, agglutination, or opsonization)
What part of a bacterial cell wall is considered an endotoxin?
Lipid A in the LPS layer of gram-negative bacteria
What is a silent mutation?
A mutation which does not cause a change in the amino acid code.