Microbiomes Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts about microbiomes, including their diversity, functions, physical systems, host associations, and engineering.

What is a microbiome?

A particular assemblage of microbes and genes that occurs in a defined environment.

What are some specialized functions of microbiomes?

Nitrogen fixation, methane oxidation, and metabolite production.

Name some physical systems where microbiomes are found.

Oceans, ice, fresh water, and soils.

What percentage of Earth's annual carbon and oxygen do floating or swimming cyanobacteria and algae produce?

Approximately 50%.

How do iron-metabolizing bacteria affect the Blood Falls in Antarctica?

They give the falls their red color.

What is a holobiont?

The combination of a host organism and its microbiome.

What is a hologenome?

The host and microbiome genomes together.

How do newborn bees acquire their microbiomes?

From sibling worker bees.

What do termites use to transfer microbes needed to break down plant materials?

Specific behaviors.

What do Microcystis colonies provide to heterotrophic bacteria?

A home.

What do algae provide to heterotrophic microbes in protist microbiomes?

Living space, oxygen, and organic materials.

Name a photosynthetic host for heterotrophic microbes.

Algae

What kind of relationship exists between a fungus and a photosynthetic species in lichens?

Symbiotic.

What is the estimated number of bacterial cells per cm2 on leaf surfaces?

As many as 10^7.

Name components of animal microbiomes.

Viruses, archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, and microscopic animals.

What is microbiome engineering?

Manipulating the composition of a microbiome to improve host characteristics.

What is the purpose of fecal transplants?

To introduce the entire gut microbiome of a healthy animal host into the gut of an unhealthy host.

How do biologists engineer communities by artificial selection of favorable microbiomes?

By growing a variety of organisms bearing different microbiomes, assessing the organisms for desired traits, and using them to inoculate the next generation of organisms.

How do corals benefit from housing photosynthetic algae?

The algae provide them with nutrients.

What is the relationship between the Bobtail squid and Aliivibrio fischeri?

The squid provides a habitat and nutrients, while the bacteria provide bioluminescence.

What is one approach to microbiome engineering that involves genetically modified organisms?

Using synthetic biology to engineer microbes with new functions that can be introduced to a target environment.

What are phages being explored for in microbiome engineering?

For targeting