Chapter 1-8: Introduction to Microbiology and Biochemistry

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from lecture notes on microorganisms, infectious diseases, and basic organic chemistry relevant to microbiology.

Bioremediation

The use of organisms to help clean up toxins and pollutants in the environment.

Microbial insecticide

The use of microorganisms, such as Bacillus anthracis, as a natural pesticide to control insects.

Staph epidermidis

A common bacteria that covers approximately 90% of human skin, competing with harmful microbes for space and nutrients.

Opportunistic infection

An infection caused by normal microflora (usually harmless) when an opportunity arises, such as a weakened immune system or antibiotic use (e.g., C. Diff).

Biofilms

Communities of microorganisms that adhere to surfaces and each other through a slimy, extracellular matrix, often resistant to antibiotics and immune responses.

NIH estimate (biofilms)

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 60-80% of infectious diseases in humans are caused by biofilms.

Infectious disease

A disease where pathogens colonize a susceptible host, spending at least part of their life cycle within that host.

Reemerging diseases

Infectious diseases that were once under control but are now increasing in incidence (e.g., malaria, measles, diphtheria, cholera).

Newly emerging diseases

Infectious diseases that are new to the human population or have recently increased in incidence and geographic scope (e.g., COVID).

Deliberately emerging diseases

Diseases intentionally introduced, often for bioterrorism purposes (e.g., anthrax spores in mail).

H1N1 (Swine Flu)

A pandemic influenza virus first detected in the US in 2009, primarily circulating in animals but with potential for human adaptation.

Avian Flu (H5N1)

A flu virus originating in birds that has not yet significantly evolved to spread efficiently among humans, but poses a potential pandemic threat.

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)

A strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed resistance to methicillin and many other antibiotics.

Staphylococcus aureus

A common bacterium that can cause various infections, from mild skin conditions to severe food poisoning due to toxin production.

Food poisoning (toxin-mediated)

Rapid onset of sickness (within ~30 minutes) caused by consuming food containing bacterial toxins, often from organisms like Staphylococcus aureus.

Nosocomial infection (Hospital-associated infection)

Any infection acquired by an individual in a medical or healthcare setting.

Vancomycin

An antibiotic historically considered a 'last resort' for treating multi-drug resistant infections, though vancomycin-resistant strains are emerging.

Prions

Infectious proteins that cause normal proteins to misfold, leading to fatal neurological diseases; extremely resistant to sterilization methods.

BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)

Also known as 'Mad Cow Disease,' a prion disease in cattle that can be transmitted to humans through the ingestion of infected meat.

Prion sterilization

The process of deactivating prions, which is challenging as they resist standard heat and chemical sterilization, often requiring prolonged high-temperature treatments.

E. Coli O157

A pathogenic strain of E. Coli responsible for food poisoning, often from undercooked meat or unpasteurized products, capable of causing hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

A serious complication of E. Coli O157 infection, particularly in children, characterized by acute kidney failure.

Group A Strep (Flesh-eating bacteria)

A virulent bacterial infection that causes necrotizing fasciitis, leading to rapid destruction of soft tissue.

Vibrio (Flesh-eating bacteria)

A type of bacteria, often found in salty water, that can cause severe 'flesh-eating' infections if it enters the body through open wounds.

Cryptosporidiosis

A diarrheal disease caused by a protozoan parasite, commonly transmitted through contaminated drinking water or swimming pools.

Essential Elements of Life

Four elements (Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen) composing 96% of living matter, with others like Phosphorus, Sulfur, Calcium, and Potassium making up the rest.

Organic molecule

A molecule that always contains both carbon and hydrogen, often characterized by complex structures and long carbon chains.

Inorganic molecule

Small molecules that typically do not contain carbon, or lack hydrogen if carbon is present (e.g., sodium chloride, CO2).

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, built from recurring smaller subunits.

Covalent bonds

Strong chemical bonds that primarily hold organic molecules together, especially the carbon and hydrogen backbone.

Carbohydrates (function)

The primary energy source for most organisms (preferentially glucose) and structural components (e.g., cell walls).

Lipids (function)

Primary function as a long-term stored energy source.

Glucose

The most common and preferential monosaccharide (sugar) used by organisms and cells for metabolism.

Glycogen

A stored form of glucose in animal cells (liver, muscle) and bacterial inclusion bodies, serving as short-term energy.

Inclusion bodies (bacteria)

Non-membrane-bound storage granules within bacterial cells, containing concentrated substances like glycogen or lipids.

Functional groups

Specific groups of atoms (containing C, H, O, N, S, P) attached to the carbon backbone of organic molecules, determining their chemical properties and reactivity.

Hydroxyl group (-OH)

A functional group that is hydrophilic (water-loving), increases molecular polarity, and is found in carbohydrates (sugars).

Carbonyl group (C=O)

A functional group found in carbohydrates; its position on the carbon chain determines if the sugar is an aldehyde (terminal) or a ketone (internal).

Carboxyl group (-COOH)

A functional group with acidic properties (can donate a hydrogen), found in amino acids and fatty acids.

Sulfhydryl group (-SH)

A functional group containing sulfur, found in specific amino acids (methionine, cysteine) and important for disulfide bond formation in proteins.

Amino group (-NH2)

A functional group that acts as a base (can accept a hydrogen), found in amino acids.

Phosphate group (-PO4)

A functional group found in phospholipids (forming the polar head) and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA).

Monomer

A single, small subunit that serves as the building block for larger macromolecules (polymers) (e.g., glucose, amino acids, nucleotides).

Polymer

A large macromolecule composed of many repeating monomer subunits linked together (e.g., starch, proteins, nucleic acids).

Dehydration reaction (Condensation reaction)

A chemical reaction where two monomers are joined together by removing a molecule of water, forming a polymer.

Hydrolysis reaction (Cleavage reaction)

A chemical reaction that breaks down a polymer into smaller monomer units by adding a molecule of water.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrate, a single sugar molecule (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose).

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides linked together by dehydration synthesis (e.g., sucrose, lactose, maltose).

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate consisting of long chains of many monosaccharide units (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin).

Pentoses

Five-carbon sugars, such as deoxyribose (in DNA) and ribose (in RNA).

Hexoses

Six-carbon sugars, comprising the majority of common monosaccharides like glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Peptidoglycan

A unique polymer of disaccharides (NAG and NAM) and amino acids that forms the cell wall of bacteria, making it a target for antibiotics.

N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) and N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM)

Modified glucose molecules that are the disaccharide building blocks of bacterial peptidoglycan.

Cell wall inhibitors (antibiotics)

A class of antibiotics (e.g., penicillin, vancomycin) that interfere with the synthesis or integrity of the bacterial cell wall, leading to bacterial death.

Starch

A polysaccharide of glucose subunits used by plants for energy storage.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide of glucose polymers that forms the cell walls of plants and many algae.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide that makes up the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of insects.