Microorganisms Flashcards
(54 cards)
Essential features of virus
- outer protein coat
- inner coiled genome
- genome is either DNA or RNA
- lack ribosomes so cannot reproduce themselves
- proteins are synthesised of host ribosomes
Capsid
- made from repeated subunits called capsomeres
- capsomeres self assemble in geometrical way
- coding for single unit minimises genome size
- simplest structures are icosahedral and helical
- must contain surface exposed viral proteins on surface to recognise host receptor
Enveloped virus
- viruses released from the cell by budding are usually surrounded by membrane derived from the host membrane
Non-enveloped virus
- viruses released by lysis are usually naked protein capsids
Viral life cycle
- virus binds to host cell via receptor
- virus is taken up by cell and capsid disassembles
- replication proteins produced in host ribosomes
- viral genome is replicated, capsid reassembles, new virus produced
- virus released through cell membrane or lysis
Bacteriophage
- virus that infect bacteria
- have syringe like tail to inject genomes into host cell
Lysis
- phage DNA is replicated
- phage proteins synthesised
- progeny phage are assembled
- cell breaks open
- mature phage released
Lysogeny
- recombination takes place between phage DNA and bacterial DNA
- phsge DNA is replicated with bacterial DNA and transmitted to bacterial progeny
+ sense RNA
every viral genome must be transcribed into mRNA+ for virus proteins to be made by the host cell
Stromatolites
- layered microbial communities
- found in shallow warm water
Prokaryote shape
- coccodial eg. Streptococcus
- bacterial rods eg. E.coli
- helical bacteria that produces anibiotics eg. Streptomycetes
- small square archaon eg. Haloquadratum walsbyi
Bacterial cell
- DNA is contained in circular chromosome
- often have small circles of additional DNA called plasmids
- have cell wall and plasma membrane made of peptidoglycan
Gram staining
- used in bacterial ID
Gram positive
- purple
- thick layer of peptidoglycan
- can form endospores, which are specialised for survival and dispersal
Gram negative
- pink
- thin layer of peptidoglycan
- has outer membrane with polysaccharide chains
Growth of bacterial cells
- swimming cells attracted to food bearing surfaces
- cells settle on surface and move in large groups until suitable location is found
- cells attach firmly to surface and form microcolony
colonies form biofilm
cells on top of biofilm are released, grow flagella, and find new location
DNA transfer by conjugation
- DNA from donor cell transferred to adjacent recipient cell
- pilus tethers donor to recipient and brings cells together
- DNA passes through small opening when cells are alligned
DNA transfer through transformation
- DNA released into environment by dead cells
- DNA taken up by recipient cell
DNA transfer though transduction
- DNA is transferred from donor cell to recipient by a virus
DNA transfer of bacteria to plants
- bacteria enter plant through wound
- section of Ti plasmid is inserted to plant genome
- Ti genes cause host cell to divide and form tumour
- compounds that bacteria can metabolise are produced
Isolates
- what bacteria are initially named as
- group of similar isolates forms a species
Archaea
- known as Archaeabacteria
- organisation is similar to bacteria
- cell wall is never made from peptidoglycan
ribosomes and polymerases are simpler versions of eukaryotes - unique cell membranes and metabolic pathways
Extreme helophiles
- aerobic
- grows in saturated salt solution
Methanogens
- anaerobic
- produce methane
- distributed in oxygen free environments