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micro lab final Flashcards

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1
Q

What is horizontal gene transfer?

A

Horizontal gene transfer is the process by which an organism transfers genetic material to another organism that is not its offspring.

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2
Q

What is transduction? How does it work?

A

Transduction is a method of horizontal gene transfer where bacteriophages transfer genetic material between bacteria.

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3
Q

What is a bacteriophage?

A

A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

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4
Q

What is the lytic cycle?

A

The lytic cycle is a viral reproductive cycle that results in the destruction of the host cell.

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5
Q

What is the lysogenic cycle?

A

The lysogenic cycle is a viral reproductive cycle where the viral DNA integrates into the host genome and replicates with it.

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6
Q

What is the difference between permissive and non-permissive?

A

Permissive refers to conditions or cells that allow viral replication, while non-permissive refers to conditions or cells that do not support viral replication.

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7
Q

How might a bacteria acquire antibiotic resistance through transduction?

A

Bacteria can acquire antibiotic resistance through transduction when a bacteriophage transfers resistance genes from one bacterium to another.

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8
Q

What environmental factors control microbial growth?

A

Environmental factors include temperature, pH, osmotic pressure, and oxygen requirements.

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9
Q

How do these factors control microbial growth?

A

These factors control microbial growth by affecting enzyme function and cellular processes.

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10
Q

What are the different temperature preference categories of microbes?

A

The categories are psychrophiles, mesophiles, thermophiles, and hyperthermophiles.

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11
Q

What are the characteristics of psychrophiles?

A

Psychrophiles thrive at low temperatures, typically between -5°C and 15°C.

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12
Q

What are the characteristics of mesophiles?

A

Mesophiles grow best at moderate temperatures, usually between 20°C and 45°C.

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13
Q

What are the characteristics of thermophiles?

A

Thermophiles prefer high temperatures, typically between 45°C and 80°C.

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14
Q

What are the characteristics of hyperthermophiles?

A

Hyperthermophiles thrive at extremely high temperatures, often above 80°C.

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15
Q

How can you design an experiment to determine if your microbe is a psychrophile, mesophile, thermophile, or hyperthermophile?

A

You can incubate the microbe at various temperatures and observe growth patterns.

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16
Q

What are the different pH preferences of microbes?

A

The preferences are acidophiles, neutrophiles, and alkaliphiles.

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17
Q

What are the characteristics of acidophiles?

A

Acidophiles thrive in acidic environments, typically at pH levels below 7.

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18
Q

What are the characteristics of neutrophiles?

A

Neutrophiles prefer neutral pH levels, around pH 7.

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19
Q

What are the characteristics of alkaliphiles?

A

Alkaliphiles thrive in alkaline environments, typically at pH levels above 7.

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20
Q

What are the different oxygen preferences of microbes?

A

The preferences include obligate aerobes, micro-aerophiles, obligate anaerobes, and facultative anaerobes.

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21
Q

What are the characteristics of obligate aerobes?

A

Obligate aerobes require oxygen for growth.

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22
Q

What are the characteristics of micro-aerophiles?

A

Micro-aerophiles require low levels of oxygen for growth.

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23
Q

What are the characteristics of obligate anaerobes?

A

Obligate anaerobes cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.

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24
Q

What are the characteristics of facultative anaerobes?

A

Facultative anaerobes can grow with or without oxygen.

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25
How can you create an anaerobic environment to grow microbes?
You can create an anaerobic environment using anaerobic chambers or by using chemical agents that consume oxygen.
26
What physical factors control microbial growth?
Physical factors include radiation, UV light, and gamma rays.
27
What is the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation can remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, while non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to remove electrons.
28
How do ionizing and non-ionizing radiation control microbial growth?
Ionizing radiation damages DNA, while non-ionizing radiation can cause mutations.
29
How can you design an experiment to test if UV radiation exposure is an effective method for preventing growth of your unknown microbe?
You can expose the microbe to varying doses of UV radiation and measure growth inhibition.
30
How do antimicrobial drugs / chemotherapy control microbial growth?
Antimicrobial drugs inhibit growth or kill microorganisms.
31
What are some examples of an antibiotic?
Examples of antibiotics include penicillin and tetracycline.
32
What are some examples of a disinfectant?
Examples of disinfectants include bleach and alcohol.
33
What is a spectrum of activity for a drug?
The spectrum of activity refers to the range of microorganisms affected by a drug.
34
What is the difference between narrow and broad spectrum?
Narrow spectrum antibiotics target specific types of bacteria, while broad spectrum antibiotics target a wide range of bacteria.
35
What does it mean for an organism to be antibiotic resistant?
An antibiotic-resistant organism is not affected by antibiotics that would normally inhibit or kill it.
36
Why might an antimicrobial treatment fail?
An antimicrobial treatment might fail due to resistance, improper dosage, or inadequate duration of treatment.
37
What is the tube dilution method?
The tube dilution method is a technique used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of an antimicrobial agent.
38
How do you determine the MIC?
The MIC is determined by observing the lowest concentration of the drug that prevents visible growth of the microorganism.
39
What is the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method? How do you interpret the results?
The Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion Method is a test to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. Results are interpreted by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone around the antibiotic disk.
40
Design an experiment to determine if an antimicrobial is effective on an unknown microbe.
An experiment can be designed using the Kirby-Bauer method to test various antimicrobials against the unknown microbe.
41
What are some characteristics of Staphylococcus species?
Staphylococcus species are gram-positive cocci that often form clusters and are catalase positive.
42
Where on the human body would you expect to find Staphylococcus species?
Staphylococcus species are commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes.
43
What are some characteristics of Streptococcus species?
Streptococcus species are gram-positive cocci that typically form chains and are catalase negative.
44
Where on the human body would you find Streptococcus species?
Streptococcus species are commonly found in the throat and on mucous membranes.
45
How do you determine if your unknown bacteria is a Staph. vs a Strep.?
You can determine this by performing a catalase test; Staphylococcus is catalase positive while Streptococcus is catalase negative.
46
What is the catalase test? How does it work?
The catalase test detects the presence of the enzyme catalase, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Bubbles indicate a positive result.
47
What results would you expect for Staph. vs a Strep. in the catalase test?
Staphylococcus species will produce bubbles (positive), while Streptococcus species will not (negative).
48
What is the Mannitol salt agar test? How does it work?
Mannitol salt agar is a selective and differential medium that allows for the growth of Staphylococcus species while inhibiting others. It turns yellow if mannitol is fermented.
49
What is the blood agar test? How does it work?
Blood agar is a rich medium that supports the growth of many bacteria and allows for the detection of hemolytic activity. Results are interpreted based on the type of hemolysis observed.
50
What is the CAMP agar test? How does it work?
The CAMP test is used to identify Streptococcus agalactiae by observing enhanced hemolysis in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.
51
What is an oral microbiome? What bacterial species live here?
The oral microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms residing in the mouth, including species like Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus.
52
What causes a cavity?
Cavities are caused by the demineralization of tooth enamel due to acids produced by bacteria that ferment sugars.
53
What test can you use to determine if you are prone to cavities? How does this test work?
The saliva test can be used to measure the levels of specific bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, that are associated with cavity formation.
54
What is the mitis salivarius media?
Mitis salivarius media is a selective agar used to isolate and identify Streptococcus species from oral samples.
55
What are enteric bacteria? What human microbiome do they reside in?
Enteric bacteria are a group of bacteria that primarily inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.
56
What are their aerobic requirements?
Enteric bacteria can be facultatively anaerobic, meaning they can grow in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
57
What are their characteristics / how would you begin to identify them?
Enteric bacteria are typically gram-negative rods and can be identified through biochemical tests and culture characteristics.
58
Why are enteric bacteria hard to identify?
Enteric bacteria are hard to identify due to their diverse metabolic capabilities and the presence of many similar species.
59
What is the difference between selective and differential media?
Selective media inhibit the growth of certain organisms while allowing others to grow, whereas differential media allow for the differentiation of organisms based on their biochemical characteristics.
60
What is the MacConkey agar test? How does it work?
MacConkey agar is a selective and differential medium that isolates gram-negative bacteria and differentiates lactose fermenters, which turn the medium pink.
61
What is the Hektoen agar test? How does it work?
Hektoen agar is a selective medium for enteric gram-negative bacteria that differentiates lactose fermenters and hydrogen sulfide producers, indicated by color changes.
62
What is the Triple Sugar Iron Slant test? How does it work?
The Triple Sugar Iron Slant test is used to differentiate enteric bacteria based on their ability to ferment sugars and produce hydrogen sulfide, indicated by color changes in the medium.
63
What are some general characteristics of Fungi?
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular, have cell walls made of chitin, and reproduce via spores.
64
What is the difference between opportunistic and primary pathogens? Which are most Fungi?
Opportunistic pathogens cause disease primarily in immunocompromised hosts, while primary pathogens can cause disease in healthy individuals. Most fungi are opportunistic.
65
What are the characteristics of Sabouraud Dextrose Agar? Why is it used to grow up Fungi?
Sabouraud Dextrose Agar is a nutrient-rich medium with a high sugar concentration, ideal for growing fungi due to its ability to suppress bacterial growth.
66
What are the types of microscopic Fungi? How would you differentiate between the two?
The types of microscopic fungi are yeasts and molds. Yeasts are unicellular, while molds are multicellular and form hyphae.
67
What is a dimorphic Fungi?
Dimorphic fungi can exist in both yeast and mold forms depending on environmental conditions.
68
What are some general characteristics of protists that are human pathogens?
Protists that are human pathogens are often unicellular, eukaryotic organisms that can cause diseases.
69
What are some general characteristics of helminths?
Helminths are multicellular, eukaryotic parasites that can live in the host's digestive tract or tissues.
70
What are the types of helminths?
The types of helminths include cestodes (tapeworms), trematodes (flukes), and nematodes (roundworms).

Micro lab exam (3 decks)

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