Module 3 Flashcards

Question

What are opportunistic pathogens

Answer 1

These cause disease when optimal conditions arise. (i.e. under specific conditions)

Answer 2

Temperature Weakened immune system Wrong location Large numbers Antiobiotic resistance

Answer 3

Focusses on looking at health from a bigger picture We need to consider animals, plants and environment when trying to manage human viruses In other words, its encouraging us to consider the environmental origins of disease as well Influence of urbanisation, globalisation, climate change etc.

Answer 4

Mycobacterium tuberculosis This bacterium causes tuberculosis. Spreads person-to-person by airbone droplets such as coughing. It infects the lungs, causing cough, chest pain, weight loss and potentially death Could be latent for many years, and approx 1/3 of the worlds population is infected There is a large infection rate in Africa and SEA due to lack of medical facilities

Answer 5

Production (i.e. initial natural production of food such as animals, plants etc) --> processing (actually processing the natural produce into something edible)--> distribution --> retail/restaurant --> Consumer

Answer 6

Rumen microbes help cows digest grass Some fungi act as symbiotes to boost plant growth Some microbes are useful for maintaining soil health (recycling wastes into nutrients)

Answer 7

Microbes are needed for some processing, especially with the need for fermentation

Answer 8

Some microbes act as food sources in retail such as some fungi (mushrooms), algae

Answer 9

Boosting consumer/peoples gut microbiomes

Answer 10

Pathogens could kill animals and plants are cause diseases which could be passed on to humans Post harvest contamination can ruin crops irrigation water could be contaminated with pathogens

Answer 11

Factories could be contaminated with microbes, having a negative impact

Answer 12

Refrigeration needed to stop microbial growth

Answer 13

Poor hygiene can result in microbial growth on food

Answer 14

Poor gut microbiota causes poor health (controlled by what we eat)

Answer 15

They can help fix nitrogen (which is necessary to maintain good health) Kill animal and plant pathogens Break down organic wastes into inorganic nutrients Breaks down toxins e.g. pesticides

Answer 16

The cellulose in plants is thick and thus hard to digest. However, rumen microbes are able to help with the digestion here, to turn cellulose into sugars and organic acids

Answer 17

Both organisms benefit

Answer 18

Mycorrhizal fungi, rhizobium bacteria

Answer 19

Mycorrhizal fungi are in most plants roots , and they help enhance water and inorganic nutrient uptake, and receive sugars from the plants in return

Answer 20

Rhizobium bacteria are in legume roots They help fix nitrogen (i.e. turn N2 in air to nitrogen (ammonia) that the plants can use). They also receive sugars in return

Answer 21

Organisms causing disease

Answer 22

Crop pathogens cause global losses of ~30% total yield (~1 trillion USD) - a big one impacts is the tobacco mosaic virus When we have monocoultures, the probability of pathogens affecting the plant species is great (in this caase, it is when the species have the same gene). The Sigatoka fungi threatened the survival of cavendish bananas because they were genetically identical --> all equally susceptible to the fungi --. almost caused their extinction

Answer 23

Pathogens infecting animals inffect suffering, death and massive economic losses (~20% of total production) These can exist in viruses, vacteria, fungi or protists

Answer 24

Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Salmonella spp Bovine tuberculosis Avian Influenza virus

Answer 25

Not in Aus Contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals Causes fevers, blisters and lameness --> decreased milk and meat

Answer 26

In Aus but controllable Bactierla pathogen that affects a wide range of farm animals, and can causeIn Aus but controllable Bactierla pathogen that affects a wide range of farm animals, and can cause GI illness and is a major safety concern

Answer 27

Bacterial infection affecting cattle and other animals, including deer and goats Chronic disease can lead to respiratory issues and weight loss. Could be transmitted to humans

Answer 28

Viral infection affecting poultry Can cause sudden death, respiratory distress, decreased egg production --> economic impacts

Answer 29

This is when an animal carries a disease and transfers it to a human Refers to human infections arising from animals. Microbes could be pathogenic to both animals and human hosts or could be normal flora for animals but harmful for humans Animal is a 'vector' for disease

Answer 30

Something that transmits a pathogen

Answer 31

It has multiple meanings such as; microbial transformation of foods by fungi or bacteria or anaerobic metabolism of sugars --> alcohols, acids, CO2 Fermentation is a metabolic process in which microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, or molds convert sugars (carbohydrates) into acids, gases, or alcohol. In food production, fermentation plays a critical role in enhancing flavor, texture, preservation, and nutritional value.

Answer 32

Beer, bread, yoghurt, pickles, wine, kimchi and cheese

Answer 33

Barley is used as a source of sugars to support fermentation, and the Hops is a natural preservative to provide bitterness, followed by Yeast which ferments sugars to alcohol and CO2.

Answer 34

This is where microbes such as fungi or bacteria grow on food. However, in most cases, this food isn't poisonous

Answer 35

Refrigeration: cold enviro not conducive to microbial growth ( Preservations: chemical additions might kill microbes (Chemicals could have a harmful effect on us, also microbes could become tolerant --> bad for us) fermentation: acidic environment (some microbes can survive in acidic environments)

Answer 36

Food poisoning occurs when food is contaminated with harmful microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, parasites) or their toxins, leading to illness when consumed. It is caused by eating food that contains pathogens or toxic substances that harm the digestive system or other parts of the body. Thus, spoilage is not necessarily poisoning

Answer 37

Food borne infection is when microbes grow on foods when they aren't meant to meanwhile, food borne intoxication is when the microbes growing on foods are pathogenic or produce toxins which are harmful

Answer 38

Origins of food (determines types and numbers of microbes) Storage and prep (refrigerated? raw/cooked?) Human factors (hygiene)

Answer 39

Maintaining a safe food supply depends on managing microbes at every stage oof the production chain Soils, people, plants, factories, animals, kitchen

Answer 40

High fibre diet = bacteriodetes (good bacteria) High fat and protein diet = firmicutes (bad bacteria) We need a balance of both, but better to have more bacteriodetes

Answer 41

Healthy microbiome important for proper food digestion, reistance to pathogens , immune functions Bad microbiome linked to allergies, T2 diabetes, cancer, obesity etc

Answer 42

Everything is connected Everything must go somewhere There is no such thing as a free lunch Nature knows best (i.e. evolution will always bring us to a balanced state)

Answer 43

Autotrophs describe organisms who can produce their own food, given certain energy sources such as CO2 Many use light and Chemical energy sources as fuel \ They convert inorganic C to organic C, acting as a 'sink' for CO2 --> acts to limit climate change Autotrophs act as a carbon sink

Answer 44

Chemotrophs (chemical energy sources) --> methanogens Phototrophs (light energy sources)

Answer 45

These are organisms which consume CO2 and H2 which produces methane However, CH4 is actually very deterimental for the environment. As such, it has an overall negative impact despite consuming CO2. (Sink for CO2 but CH4 source which is bad) They are largely anaerobic, so they are in oxygen-free habitats like deep sediments, soil micro-niches, animal gut

Answer 46

Algae blooms perform 50% of photosynthesis --> really helpful

Answer 47

These are organisms which must consume other organisms for food/energy. A major example of this is a methanotroph

Answer 48

These consume CH4 and produce CO2 as a result. Although it is argued that release of CO2 is bad, it can address CH4 levels rising, thus being very good. Also, it could attack toxic pollutants such as trichloroethylene --> ebven more beneficial for environment

Answer 49

Key group of heterotrophs which recycle dead cells and materials back to CO2 (i.e. recycling nutrients into simpler compounds) Fungi are major decomposers in terrestial ecosystems

Answer 50

These consume other microbes, and may pose a threat to other microbes. Preadotrs could include flagellates and ameobae Typically, protists are predators,

Answer 51

Methanotrophs are one example of bacteria growing on hydrocarbons as their energy and carbon source. Hydrocarbon degrading bacteria can be good for bioremediation - cleanup of poollution by microbes They are heterotrophs specialising in eating ancient fossilised organic compounds Similar to decomposers, but contain enzymes which attack hydrocarbons --> useful in cleaning pollutatns Need to find more to help beneft the environment

Answer 52

The algae consumes CO2 and light to photosynthesise and produce sugars (which are then used by coral) the coral utilises the sugars to produce CO2 as well Thus, the cycle continues

Answer 53

Lichens are primary producers of organic carbon in some habitats. They are photosynthetic, but aern't plants. they are actually a symbiosis between a heterotrophic fungus and an autotrophic algae. The autotrophic algae takes carbon / CO2, and transforms it into sugar. This sugar is used by fungus to produce CO2, and the cycle continues. The fungus also provides physical protection

Answer 54

It is a molecular biology technique used to create identical copies of a specific DNA fragment Involves isolating and replicating a segment of DNA

Answer 55

Refers to a DNA molecule which has been artificially created by combining genetic material from different sources

Answer 56

Organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques

Answer 57

They could grow rapidlyy, have high genetic manipulability, which allows for 'testing' of various genetics ( This is very important for research and industrial applications Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop or create different products.

Answer 58

Plays a role in: Food, drink, medication, agriculture, fuel, cleaning

Answer 59

It is where we use biology to help create a product: Two types; cellular biotechnology and molecular biotechnology

Answer 60

Cellular biotechnology involves the use of living cells to produce biological products, conduct research, or solve problems. It focuses on understanding and manipulating cell processes for various purposes.

Answer 61

Molecular biotechnology focuses on manipulating DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecules within cells to develop products or solve problems. It involves techniques such as gene cloning, genetic modification, and molecular analysis.

Answer 62

Typically virus and bacteria, but could also use Archaea, algae and fungi

Answer 63

They have diverse living conditions Source of enzymes (PCR, thermostable polymerases for copying DNA sequences)

Answer 64

Green biotech --> good at making biofuels like H2 and ethanol Converts CO2 and light into those biofuels Low maintenance

Answer 65

Good at infecting a host cell, and using the host cell to make proteins and reproduce. They can act as vectors to carry genes --> allowing a foreign gene to be transported to certain cells via viruses

Answer 66

Yeasts - excellent cloning and expression hosts, similar to bacterial systems Moulds - antibiotic synthesis, penicillin

Answer 67

Hosts for cloning DNA, expressing proteins. They are also easy and quick to work with

Answer 68

Fastest growth (20 minutes) Very easy to extract and add plasmid DNA We normally use E.coli as the ideal bacteria

Answer 69

Bacteria and fungi/yeast

Answer 70

Fast growth rate Simple and well known genetics --> easy to manipulate Low cost cultivation Efficient plasmid propagation

Answer 71

They express eukaryotic genes. This makes it good for application to humans, as the products produced by it will be suitable for human use, compared to bacteria which would only provide prokaryotic suitable products We normally use cerevisae as the biotech here

Answer 72

Because it is easy to cultivate, has rapid growth and relatively well known genetics Good as it is a eukaryote as well --> similar to human cells, especially as many proteins need post-translational modifications to be functional. Thus, this could modify the products in was that the bacteria can't, and make sure products are able to be used by humans

Answer 73

Any vehicle used to carry foreign genetic material into a host cell for replication or expression

Answer 74

These are circular DNA elements found in microbes which replicate independently of the chromosome Most commonly used vector

Answer 75

These are small, circular, double stranded DNA molecules existing independently of the chromosomal DNA in bacteria and some eukaryotes They have their own origin of replication, thus not relying on cell's divison cycle These aren't necessary to survival of bacteria, however they can provide additional capabilities such as antibiotic resistance. They are naturally found, and allow genes to be transferred

Answer 76

Selectable (gene) marker Replication function Cloning site

Answer 77

Forces plasmid uptake into a bacteria (?!) This could allow for antibiotic resistance or change in metabolic activity

Answer 78

Allows for the persistence of a plasmid in a host

Answer 79

It is the site of manipulation, where we could insert foreign genes. It exposes an 'easy gene' to access

Answer 80

We can either create identical organisms (GMO) OR make copies of a piece of DNA by adding it into a plasmid, then replicating the plasmid

Answer 81

Recombinant DNA preparation (whart part is modified) Transformation and screening (actually modifying the plasmid) Copying and expressing

Answer 82

Foreign DNA and plasmid vector are mixed together to form a recombinant DNA We then identify the gene of interest, and digest a DNA (cut DNA) with restriction enzymes We then ligate the DNA (Join the foreign DNA with vector) using a T4 ligase

Answer 83

Transformation: Host cell to pick up recombinant DNA. To do this, we need to stimulate stressful conditions to cause it to want to pick up We then use a selectable gene marker to verify successful cloning by monitoring the gene marker Screening: Once the recombinant plasmid is inside the host cell, not all cells will have successfully taken up the plasmid or integrated the desired gene. Therefore, screening is necessary to identify cells that have the recombinant DNA:

Answer 84

Bacterial growth: After transformation, bacteria are cultured in liquid media. The cells divide and replicate the plasmid, which contains the recombinant DNA. This process results in the amplification (copying) of the plasmid and the inserted gene. Plasmid replication: The plasmid has its own origin of replication, allowing it to independently replicate within the host cell, producing many copies of the recombinant DNA. Gene expression: If the goal is to produce a protein from the inserted gene, the gene needs to be expressed (transcribed and translated into protein). This often requires an appropriate promoter sequence (often derived from viruses or bacteria) that drives transcription of the gene in the host cell. Or it could be expressed in an end product such as HepB vaccine or used to make another product (enzymes, soure of algal biofuels as well) Ultimately, the result is a GMO with a foreign gene

Answer 85

They are important as they can save lives They can protect against a variety of diseases such as smallpox, polio, ravies etc Some diseases have no cure, so prevention through vaccines is the only option They allow for 'herd immunity'

Answer 86

Vaccines work on the adaptive immune system, and how it can recognise antigens associated with a pathogen They basically consist of live (weakened) microbes, dead microbes, antigens produced of pathogens etc, and get the body used to how they are going to respond

Answer 87

1) Recombinant DNA preparation: Identify gene of interest (surface protein antigen HBAg). This gene is digested and then ligated through a yeast plasmid vector. 2) Transformation and screening: Transformation into yeast host, and then select those which were actually successful in transofmring 3) Copying and expressing See whether the recombinant yeast actually expresses foreign gene, and then purify it to make an antigen product; which in this case is the HepB vaccine

Module 3 Flashcards

(112 cards)