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Flashcards in Intro to microbes Deck (14)
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1
Q

What are the 5 classes of microbial organisms?

A

Viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, prions

2
Q

Describe viruses

A
20 nm – 1 μm in size​
RNA or DNA​
No independent metabolism and no organelles​
Simple protein coat (plus cell membrane from host cell)​
​
Examples :​
Influenza / Rhinovirus​
Rotavirus / Norovirus​
Herpes simplex / Chickenpox​
EBV / CMV​
HAV / HBV / HCV / HEV​
HIV​
Dengue / Zika​
Ebola / Lassa​
Smallpox
3
Q

Describe bacteria

A

1 – 10 μm in size​
DNA as a single chromosome (prokaryotes)​
Independent metabolism and no organelles​
Cell wall (distinct from cell membrane of host organism)​


Peptidoglycan cell wall = Gram stain +ve ​
Lipopolysaccharide cell wall = Gram stain –ve (stain pink)

Gram positive cocci e.g. Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species​

Gram positive bacilli e.g. Bacillus anthracis, Lactobacilli species​

Gram negative cocci e.g. Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae​

Gram negative bacilli e.g. Escherichia coli, Salmonella species

4
Q

Describe fungi

A

5 – 10 μm in size​

  • DNA as multiple chromosomes in a nucleus (eukaryotes)​
  • Independent metabolism & organelles (no chloroplasts)​
  • Cell wall (distinct from cell membrane of host organism)
5
Q

Describe protozoa

A

10 – 100 μm in size​
DNA as multiple chromosomes in a nucleus (eukaryotes)​
Independent metabolism and organelles​
Cell membrane (similar to host organism)

6
Q

Describe prions

A

~10 nm​
No RNA or DNA (just a protein enzyme)​
No independent metabolism & no organelles​
No protein coat, cell wall or cell membrane

7
Q

Define commensal

A

symbiotic relationship between two different species where one derives some benefit and the other is unaffected

8
Q

Define colonisation

A

when a microbe grows on or in another organism without causing any disease

9
Q

Define infection

A

the invasion and multiplication of microbes in an area of the body where they are not normally present – an infection may cause no symptoms and be sub-clinical or it may cause varying degrees of symptoms and be clinically apparent

10
Q

Define pathogen

A

a micro-organism that is able to cause disease

11
Q

Define obligate pathogen

A

a pathogen that must cause disease in order to be transmitted from one host to another – these pathogens must also infect a host in order to survive, in contrast to other pathogens that are capable of survival outside of a host

12
Q

Define opportunistic pathogen

A

a pathogen that takes advantage of an opportunity not normally available, such as a host with a weakened immune system, an altered microbiota (such as a disrupted gut flora), or breached integumentary barriers (eg. Cut in skin).

13
Q

Define parasite

A

old-fashioned term for pathogens that are protozoa or metazoa (worms and ecto-parasites)

14
Q

What are Koch’s postulates?

A

1) The micro-organism must be found in abundance in all organisms suffering from the disease, but should not be found in healthy organisms.​
2) The micro-organism must be isolated from a diseased organism and grown in pure culture.​
3) The cultured micro-organism should cause disease when introduced into a healthy organism.​
4) The micro-organism must be re-isolated from the inoculated, diseased experimental host and identified as being identical to the original specific causative agent.