Bacterial Growth and Environmental Influences

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to bacterial growth, environmental influences, and microbial nutrition.

Essential nutrients

Nutrients that must be supplied from the environment for microbial growth.

Macronutrients

Major elements found in cell macromolecules, such as C, O, H, N, P, and S.

Micronutrients

Trace elements necessary for enzyme function, including Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn.

Autotrophs

Organisms that fix CO2 and assemble organic molecules, mainly sugars.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that use preformed organic molecules for growth.

Psychrophiles

Microbes that thrive in low temperatures, found in cold environments.

Thermophiles

Microbes that are active in high temperatures, typically between 50°C and 80°C.

Barophiles

Organisms adapted to grow at very high pressures, up to 1,000 atm.

Halophiles

Organisms that require high salt concentrations for growth.

Osmolarity

A measure of the number of solute molecules in a solution, inversely related to water activity (aw).

Compatible solutes

Compounds that help bacteria protect their internal water balance in hypertonic environments.

Anaerobes

Microorganisms that can grow in the absence of molecular oxygen.

Aerobes

Microorganisms that require molecular oxygen for growth.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)

Byproducts of oxygen metabolism that can be toxic to anaerobes.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can live with or without oxygen but grow better in its presence.

Acidophiles

Bacteria that thrive in acidic environments, typically at pH 0-5.

Alkaliphiles

Bacteria that flourish in alkaline environments, typically at pH 9-11.

Extremophiles

Organisms that can grow in extreme conditions, different from normal ecological niches.

Hydronium ions (H3O+)

The form of hydrogen ions in solution that affects cell macromolecular structures.