Germs Module 3/ Final

Symbiosis

when two different organisms have some form of relationship

Parasitism

a form of symbiosis where the host is harmed and the parasite benefits

Mutalism

a form of symbiosis where BOTH the host and the other organism benefit

Mitochondria

helps convert sugar to ATP; central role in cell energy production

Chloroplasts

helps convert sunlight to sugar

Chloroplasts and Mitochondria have a…

mutualistic relationship, specifically endosymbiotic relationship

Endosymbiotic Theory

explains how certain eukaryotic organelles, like mitochondria and chloroplasts, likely evolved.

chloroplasts and mitochondria appear to be descendants of ancient bacteria.

Probiotic

something that aids the growth of beneficial microbes'

often a culture of those beneficial microbes

Skin Microbiome

the diverse community of microorganisms that live on and in the skin.

play a crucial role in maintaining skin health and protecting against infections.

up to 1,000 species of bacteria

bacteria have evolved to effectively inhabit skin

hair follicles and sweat glands

changes with age

Staphylococcus aureus

possible pathogen

MRSA health threat

Staphylococcus epidermidis

helps prevent skin water loss

possible use as probiotic

Oral Microbiome

complex community of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that live in the mouth.

second most diverse microbiome in the human body

Commensal Streptococci

a group of at least 18 bacterial species

called commensalists because they can be parasites or mutualists

Commensalism

when one side benefits and the other is neutral

Nitrate reducing bacteria

Examples: Neisseria sp. and Rothia sp.

saliva contains nitrate from blood - bacteria on tongue convert nitrates to nitric oxide - nitric oxide plays in a role in reducing blood pressure - oxidative stress

most species can switch between mutualists and parasites based on conditions

Gut Microbiome

the community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, primarily the intestines.

most diverse microbiome in human body

Lactobacilli sp.

use carbohydrates to produce lactic acid

mutualists help prevent pathogens from adhering and aid digestion

major area of research for probiotics

Vitamin K producing bacteria

metabolic activity provides digestive aid and vitamin K

cows and other animals getting nutrients from cows

Development of gut microbiome

newborns initial gut microbiome comes from birth parent

diet

blood glucose levels

appetite

lifestyle

antibiotics

Coral Reef Microbiome

a diverse community of microorganisms that live within and on coral tissues.

“rainforest of the ocean”

many corals rely on coral microbiomes

protect coastline from erosion, ecological niches for habitat, food, protection

Dinoflagellates

single-celled eukaryotes

live in many coral species, provide nutrients for coral

mutalistic

Soil Microbiome

the diverse community of microorganisms that inhabit soil habitats

mutualism between Mycorrhizal Fungi and plant roots

Water Purification

microbes remove contaminants from water (nitrates, pesticides, oli, heavy metal)

Structure and Erosion Prevention

bacterial biofilms and secretions, fungal mycelium, soil health and plant health closely related

Decomposition

chemical breakdown of organic matter

Carbon Cycle

life on earth is made of carbon

carbon cycle describes how carbon atoms are distributed on earth

dead organisms = structured carbon that cannot be used

without microbes carbon would be lost (dead end)

Nitrogen Cycle

nitrogen is a necessary element for life

describes how nitrogen atoms are distributed

atmospheric nitrogen is largely not accessible for life

some bacteria can process it

decomposition returns nitrogen to soil

nitrogen imbalance can cause algae blooms

Climate Change

microbes play a role in climate change

soil microbes contribute to climate change via methane and CO2 release

Coral Bleaching

warmer temperatures

mutalist microbes expelled from coral due to stress

potential collapse of food change - ecosystem

DNA Sequencing

determining the sequence of DNA

the order of the nucleic acids (A,T,C,G)

Human Genome Project

learn the sequence of the human DNA

bacteria were crucial

bacterial plasmids can take in DNA

Transgenics

putting DNA from one species into another

often for biomedical or commercial purposes (GMO’s)

CRISPR

another method of genetic manipulation/editing

phage infects bacteria - Cas protein may splice phage DNA into CRISPR region - new phage transcribed to RNA - integrated into Cas protein

targets sequences of interest and removes them (search, cut, edit)

Microbial Remediation

remediation is the repair or reversal of environmental damage

microbes have provided several opportunities to develop remediation methods for modern problems

Ideonella sakaiensis

uses enzymes to slowly digest plastics

eat plastics as a food source

• mutate/edit enzyme sequence to make it more efficient

• help bacteria form biofilms on plastic to increase enzyme concentration

Microbial influences in culture

science, fiction, and society have deeply connected interactions

reciprocal relationship