BIOMI 1100 FINAL DEFINITIONS/QUESTIONS

Precision fermentation

This food biotechnology uses genetically engineered microbes to produce a desired protein of animal origin. Using microbes to make different kinds of proteins, synthetic biology

how does the gut microbiota of honeybees affect their social behavior

molecules produced by microbes in the gut can affect the brain of the honeybee

what is obligate mutualism

a relationship where two species are so closely linked that neither can survive without the other ex. Buchnera and aphids

what are some antibiotic targets

bacterial DNA polymerase, bacterial cell wall, bacterial ribosome

why is lyme disease hard to control

the bacterium is maintained in a reservoir of small animals like white footed mice

meningitis is associated with what disease

west nile virus

what happens during mosquito transmission of flaviviruses

the virus is taken up by the mosquito during a bloodmeal, then infects the midgut of the mosquito and within a week reaches the salivary glands, ready to be transmitted

what two cell types can legionella infect

amoebae and macrophages

why is it difficult to get rid of tuberculosis

the vaccine is only partially efficacious, the bacterium forms granulomas and can be latent for years, and the bacteria is often resistant to multiple antibiotics

does mumps have a vaccine?

yes- measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine

how is HEP C transmitted from one person to another

through blood products, transfusions, needles, tattoos

what are unique features of Listeria monocytogenes

uses actin polymerization to shoot from one cell to another, and grows in the refrigerator

where does E. coli O157:H7 get its name from

o157 is the name for a particular LPS, h for a particular flagella protein

how does norovirus enter cells

receptor mediated endocytosis

what are the causes of foodborne ilness

infectious microbes which grow inside our intestinal tracts, and exotoxins that accumulate in food even before we eat it

what makes cholera so pathogenic

strains which contain the genes encoding the cholera toxin proteins are pathogenic

what makes salmonella typhi so pathogenic?

a pathogenicity island is carried within its genome

how is agrobacterium used to make a transgenic plant

the Ti plasmid is transferred into the plant cell and the insert is incorporated into the chromosome of the plant, they infect the plant cell, and Ti plasmid DNA containing the gene of interest is transformed into agrobacterium

what type of genetic transfer is NOT found in bacteria

transcription

What was the result of the Ithaca typhoid epidemic

Cornell became famous for all the wrong reasons, a new source for drinking water was developed, a book was written

how is COVID classified right now?

endemic

what would you need to genome edit a plant

guide RNA, Cas9, DNA template

how is genome editing different from transgenesis

genome editing includes changes of a few nucleotides, whereas transgenic includes the insertion of a gene from a different organism

what is horizontal gene transfer?

movement of genetic material from one organism to another

what are examples of alternative proteins

proteins from insects, algae, and/or fungi

can bacteria be harnessed to produce protein from thin air?

yes - hydrogenotrophs

what is synthetic biology

genetically engineered organisms to have novel traits

what is the difference between traditional fermentation and precision fermentation

precision fermentation uses microbes to express specific proteins from different species like a certain animal

what do microorganisms in bread production produce during the process

they generate alcohol and CO2

difference between prebiotic and probiotic

prebiotics include food for microbes, probiotics include microbes themselves that are beneficial for gut health

which class of microbe can survive and contaminate food at room temperature?

mesophile

what is the difference between pasteurization and sterilization

sterilization takes place in an autoclave for at least 20 minutes while pasteurization only takes a few minutes; sterilization kills all microorganisms, pasteurization kills most

what are cytotoxic t cells

white blood cells that kill pathogens and human cells infected by viruses

What do Covid RNA vaccines do

provides protective immunity

what is the difference between active and passive immunization?

active immunization involves raising an immune response to a given antigen

what drives the production of different COVID variants?

mutations in the spike protein

what does the flu, COVID, and RSV have in common as viruses

they are all RNA viruses, and they are also all respiratory viruses

why do we need a flu shot?

the virus keeps changing by genetic drift and reassortment

is there a vaccination for HIV

no

what makes HIV different from other viruses

carries reverse transcriptase

whats the difference between herpes simplex virus and human papilloma virus

HSV has a linear genome and HPV has a circular genome; HSV has a lipid envelope, HSV can travel through nerve cells where as HPV infects epithelial cells

how are HSV and HPV similar to each other?

both are transmitted by skin contact, both have dsDNA genomes, both can cause cancer

what do all viruses have

nucleic acid and proteins

how does chlamydia invade?

It enters and reprograms the host cell

how does syphilis evade the immune system

its outer sheath contains compounds which look like human compounds

how do deodorants work

they kill microbes and block sweat glands

what causes body odor

commensal microbes that metabolize sweat into stinky compounds

What makes S. pyogenes so infectious

Key virulence factors include M protein, streptolysins, and exotoxins, which help the bacteria evade the immune system and damage host tissues.

What is streptococcus pyogenes

a Gram-positive, beta-hemolytic bacterium that forms chains of cocci. It causes common infections like strep throat, impetigo, and scarlet fever, as well as severe diseases like necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome. Post-infection complications can include rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. It spreads through respiratory droplets or direct contact.

How do you count bacteria in a sample

use fluorescent stain to count the # of bacteria

how does the fungus that synthesizes penicillin act to block growth of bacteria

it blocks cell wall synthesis to prevent reproduction and growth

if most pathogenic bacteria don’t last longer than 1 day on ice, why are they still a problem

they have contact through skin breaks or inhalation

how does fungi make fruit soften

fungi secrete digestive enzymes to break down cell walls of fruit

what is the difference between the gut microbiotas of an audlt in New York City and one in the Amazon

the person from the Amazonian tribe has a more diverse gut microbiome

what is heliobacteria pylori

a spiral-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining of humans. It’s well known for its role in causing peptic ulcers and gastritis, and is also linked to stomach cancer and MALT lymphoma

where in the gut are most microbes found

in the colon

what are some characteristics about e. coli

is a versatile bacterium commonly used in genetics and biotechnology research. It can metabolize various substrates and is capable of rapid growth, making it an ideal host for recombinant DNA technology. some strains also cause food poisoning

what interventions enabled us to bring down waterborne diseases to a minimum in the last 100 years

chlorination, filtration

what is the difference between red and black mold

red mold is derived from bacteria, black is from fungi

whats the difference between anabolism and catabolism

Anabolism refers to the metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units, typically requiring energy, while catabolism encompasses the metabolic pathways that break down molecules into smaller units, releasing energy.

what are examples of a symbiotic relationship

lichen, clown fish and sea anenome, sharks and pilot fish

how can you avoid infection by a brain eating amoeba or guinea worm

drink clean, filtered water, take care of your food, do not swim in rivers

How do eukaryotic cells differ from prokaryotic cells

eurkaryotic cells are much larger than prokaryotic cells, they have organelles such as mitochondria, and they have a distinct nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane

Plasmid

A small ring of DNA that carries accessory genes separate from those of the bacterial chromosome

Cloning

A process in which a cell, cell product, or organism is copied from an original source.

Cell-based (cultivated) meat

Outnumber benefits of cell-based meat production envision as a viable replacement to the traditional meat production due to environmental, ethical and health concerns Animal biopsy- Isolation of stem cells from animal biopsy -Placing stem cells in cell culture for proliferation -Differentiation of cells into adult muscle cells -Muscule cells are gathered and merged during food processing, such as shaping, coloring ,and seasoning

Alcohol fermentation

typically performed by yeast, where sugars are converted into ethanol (alcohol) and carbon dioxide in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions)

Malic acid

Organic acid that is used to store carbon dioxide during the night and is released during the day to allow photosynthesis when the stomata are closed

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Baker's yeast used in baking and brewing.

O. oeni

species of lactic acid bacteria that plays a crucial role in winemaking, specifically during the malolactic fermentation (MLF) process.

Sporadic disease

a rare and irregular occurrence of a disease in an area

Endemic disease

disease constantly present in a population (common cold)

Epidemic

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

Pandemic

Disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population.

Morbidity

# of reported illnesses

Mortality

death rate

Fecal-oral transmission

Fecal material enters the water supply; Water contaminated with intestinal pathogens

Salmonella enterica serotype typhi

Causes typhoid fever. Grows in the intestinal tract of infected humans; transmitted in feces.

Pathogenicity island

A type of genomic island, a stretch of DNA that contains virulence factors and may have been transferred from another genome.,Set of genes collected together on a plasmid that has a ton of bad genes; Handy for the bacteria to give to other bacteria and help evade the immune system

John Snow

"Father of Epidemiology", studied the London Cholera epidemics of 1848 & 1854, suspected it was from the water, as most cases were found close to the Broad Street pump

Vibrio cholerae

causes cholera, Gram-negative, found in coastal habitats; Many strains degrade chitin, few cause disease

TCP

(toxin co-regulated pilus)

Cholera toxin

-Vibrio cholerae encodes the toxin; exotoxin, Increases fluid secretion, Overactivates adenylate cyclase (increasing cAMP) by permanently activating Gs increasing Cl− secretion in gut and H2O efflux, Voluminous "rice-water" diarrhea

CFTR

cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Giardiasis

caused by the eukaryote giardia; Outbreaks occur by ingestion of cysts, Cysts found in 97% of surface water in the US; Many animals and some people are carries of giardia; Worldwide 280 million cases

Cysts

dormant larvae surrounded by protective coverings, -spore like, dormant, resistant to drying and chemicals; Germinate in the small iuntestine and attach to the intestinal lining; Causes explosive diarrhea, intestinal cramps, gas; Goes in large intestine and developes back into a cyst

Norovirus

a contagious gastrointestinal illness, Non enveloped and has (+)ssRNA genome, Cause of GI, Transmitted through the fecal-oral route; Through touching objects contaminated with vomit or fecal matter containing the virus; Can survive for up to two weeks on surfaces; It can spread easily in crowded places

Pathogenic E. coli O157:H7

The O antigen of LPS has 200 varieties; H antigens - flagella has 50 types of flagella; Normal microvilli - Normal in the small intestine - has a high surface area, so cells can absorb nutrients as much as possible; Loss of microvilli - pathogenic E. coli is so damaging that it destroys microvilli - No absorption of food

Intimin

surface protein that pathogenic E. coli produces to adhere to the gut epithelium; A pathogenic E. coli adhesion protein that binds tightly to an E. coli-produced receptor injected into host cells.

EHEC (Enterohemorrhagic E. coli)

Bleeding inside the gut; Produces Shiga toxin; Contains 1 A subunit, 5 B subunits; B attaches to the cells; A has the biological activity to make someone sick; A is processed into two fragments, A1 and A1; Attacks the host cell translation machinery by cleaving 28s rRNA; Attacks ribosomes

Shiga toxin

Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7 Cleaves host cell rRNA (inactivates 60S ribosome) Enhances cytokine release, causing HUS, produced by Enterohemorrhagic E. coli

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

a condition in which hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia cause acute renal failure and possibly death Toxin ends up in the bloodstream at high concentrations, which damages the kidneys

Listeria monocytogenes

opportunistic pathogen, found in soil and animal guts; Adhesion proteins to aid entry; Cytotoxin to lyse the phagosome membrane; Enzymes to digest host phospholipids; Secretes protein to subvert host cell function

Controlled actin polymerization

Able to pass through strong barriers in the body

Flavivirus

flavi - yellow, yellow fever, west nile virus, hep c, dengue fever, zika

Hepatitis C virus

Flavivirus;Humans are the only known reservoir; Transmission between an uninfected and an infected host through blood; Single-stranded RNA that is positive-sense; Enveloped; 50-60 nm; Belongs to the Hepacivirus subgroup specific to dogs and humans; Produces a mild disease initially, but most individuals develop chronic hepatitis that can lead to chronic liver disease

Arbovirus

any of a group of viruses that are transmitted between hosts by mosquitoes, ticks, and other arthropods.

Mumps

Paramyxovirus, Minus strand; Envelope virus; Humans are the only known reservoir; transmitted through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets; A common disease in many parts of the world, including areas in Europe, Asian and Africa

What is mumps infection

incubation period of 14-18 days, Infectious from 2 days to 5 days, Symptomatic 7-10 days, Most people recover completely after a few weeks, Symptoms - Pain and swelling of the parotid glands that may extend down to other salivary glands, fever, headache, loss of appetite

Parotid glands

large glands at the angle of the jaw which produce saliva, swell when infection of mumps