BIOL 2460 Chapter 4 - Tagged

What are prokaryotes and where can they be found?

Prokaryotes, which include bacteria and archaea, are ubiquitous and can be found in habitats such as hot springs, ice caps, deep oceans, and on human skin and mucosal surfaces.

What is the significance of prokaryotic diversity in ecosystems?

Diversity is important for the stability of ecosystems, carbon and nitrogen fixation, and environmental cleanup.

What is Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology used for?

It is the standard for bacterial taxonomy.

What is mutualism? Provide an example.

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship where both species benefit from each other. Example: Gut nutrient metabolism, where gut bacteria help with digestion and nutrient absorption.

what makes a microbiome

Resident AND Transient Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, Viruses, Genetic elements, and activity

What is amensalism? Provide an example.

Amensalism is a relationship where one species is harmed while the other is unaffected. Example: Antimicrobial defense on skin, where skin bacteria inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens.

What environmental roles do Bacteroides play?

Bacteroides are important components of the gut microbiome, aiding in digestion and maintaining gut health.

What is commensalism? Provide an example.

Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship where one species benefits, and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Example: Skin cells serving as a food source for certain microorganisms.

What is neutralism? Provide an example.

Neutralism is a relationship where neither species affects the other. Example: Spores in soil, which exist without impacting other microbial species.

What is parasitism? Provide an example.

Parasitism is a relationship where one species benefits at the expense of the other. Example: Tuberculosis or leprosy, where the pathogen harms the host for its own benefit.

What type of bacteria are included in the Proteobacteria phylum?

Proteobacteria include Gram-negative bacteria, such as Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon classes.

What do Alphaproteobacteria often require to survive?

Many Alphaproteobacteria are oligotrophs - live in low nutrient environments.

List all prokaryotic Alphaproteobacteria

Agrobacterium, Bartonella, Brucella, Caulobacter, Chlamydia, Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Hyphomicrobium, Methylocystis, Rhizobium, Rickettsia

What do Betaproteobacteria require

in order to thrive betaproteobacteria require Eutrophs - which are nutrient rich (copiotrophs) environments.

List all types of Betaproteobacteria

Bordetella, Burkholderia, Leptothrix Neisseria, Thiobacillus

What role do Gammaproteobacteria play in human health?

Gammaproteobacteria includes many pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenza, which can cause various infections.

What does the genus Clostridium produce and what diseases are they associated with?

Clostridium are obligate anaerobes and endospore producers, associated with food poisoning and diseases like tetanus.

How do Firmicutes differ from Actinobacteria in terms of G+C content?

Firmicutes have low G+C content (

What are phototrophic bacteria?

Phototrophic bacteria utilize sunlight as their main energy source, with oxygenic (produce oxygen) and anoxygenic (do not produce oxygen) types.

What are some characteristics of the phylum Crenarchaeota in Archaea?

Crenarchaeota are all aquatic microbes, many highly extremophilic, such as Sulfolobus and Thermoproteus.

What are the unique features of Gram-positive bacteria?

Gram-positive bacteria stain purple and can be classified based on guanine and cytosine content.

Which bacteria class is recognized for endospore formation?

Clostridia, a class within the Firmicutes phylum, is recognized for forming endospores.

What is the significance of cyanobacteria in the ecosystem?

Cyanobacteria are a major group of photosynthetic bacteria that contribute to the production of oxygen and nitrogen fixation.

What is a distinguishing characteristic of Mycoplasma bacteria?

Mycoplasma are characterized by having no cell wall and being extremely small.

How do archaeal membranes differ from bacterial membranes?

Archaeal membranes have branched isoprene chains and ether linkages to phosphate heads, as opposed to bacterial membranes which have fatty acids with ester linkages.

What diseases are associated with the genus Chlamydia?

Chlamydia spp. are associated with infections such as trachoma, chlamydial pneumonia, and lymphogranuloma venereum.

What are Deltaproteobacteria?

Deltaproteobacteria are a class of bacteria known for their role in the sulfur cycle and their ability to reduce sulfates. Examples include Desulfovibrio and Geobacter.

What ecological roles do Deltaproteobacteria play?

Deltaproteobacteria are important in anaerobic environments, contributing to sulfur reduction and the degradation of organic matter.

What are Epsilonproteobacteria?

Epsilonproteobacteria are a class of proteobacteria that includes microaerophilic species, some of which are associated with gastrointestinal diseases. Examples include Campylobacter and Helicobacter.

What is the significance of Epsilonproteobacteria in human health?

Epsilonproteobacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori, are important due to their association with gastric ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.

What does CFB stand for and what is its significance?

CFB stands for Cytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides. These are groups of bacteria that play essential roles in the breakdown of complex organic matter in the intestinal tract and are crucial for gut health and digestion.

Cytophaga spp.

- gliding system for motility (mechanisms mostly unknown)

Fusobacterium spp.

- inhabit mouth and can cause various oral diseases

Bacteroides spp.

30% of gut microbiome; lower levels correlated with obesity

What is the Actinobacteria phylum known for?

The Actinobacteria phylum is known for its high G+C content and includes important genera such as Streptomyces, which are known for antibiotic production.

List some examples of Firmicutes phylum.

Examples of Firmicutes include Bacillus, Lactobacillus, and Staphylococcus, which are involved in fermentation and can form endospores.

What are the main groups within Archaea?

The main groups within Archaea include Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Thaumarchaeota.

How do Euryarchaeota differ from Crenarchaeota?

Euryarchaeota can be found in a wider range of environments, including extreme salt and acidic conditions, while Crenarchaeota are primarily extremophiles typically found in high-temperature habitats.

Give an example of a hyperthermophilic archaeon.

An example of a hyperthermophilic archaeon is Pyrolobus fumarii, which can thrive at temperatures above 100°C.

What are methanogens and where are they commonly found?

Methanogens are a group of Euryarchaeota that produce methane and are commonly found in anaerobic environments such as the guts of ruminants and wetlands.

What role do halophilic archaea play in their environments?

Halophilic archaea thrive in high-salt environments and contribute to the cycling of nutrients in extreme saline conditions.

What is the significance of the unique lipids in archaeal membranes?

Archaeal membranes contain branched isoprene chains and ether linkages, which enhance their stability and functionality in extreme environments.

What are metanogens and where are they commonly found?

Methanogens are a specific type of archaeon that produce methane, commonly found in anaerobic environments such as marshes and in the guts of some animals.

What is one application of archaeal enzymes in biotechnology?

Archaeal enzymes, such as those from thermophiles, are used in biotechnology for processes that require high temperature stability, such as PCR.