BIOL205 Chapter 1 - An Invisible World Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering microbial diversity, host-microbe interactions, historical figures, and fundamental terms in microbiology.

Ubiquitous

Found everywhere in nature.

Saprophytes

Microbes that breakdown decaying organic material into usable materials.

Commensals

Microbes that live on or in an organism while causing no harm.

Mutualists

Microbes that live on or in an organism where both the microbe and the host benefit.

Bacteria

Single-cellular prokaryotic microbes with cell walls made of peptidoglycan that reproduce mostly via binary fission.

Fungi

Single-cellular or multicellular eukaryotic microbes with cell walls containing chitin.

Protozoa

Single-cellular eukaryotic microbes that are animal-like, absorb or ingest nutrients, and are mostly motile.

Algae

Single-cellular or multicellular eukaryotic microbes with cell walls made of cellulose that are mostly autotrophic.

Viruses

Microbes with a simple structure of proteins and nucleic acids that are parasites and cannot reproduction or live without a host.

Archaea

Single-celled prokaryotic microbes whose cell walls lack true peptidoglycan and contain pseudopeptidoglycan. Can live in extreme conditions.

Helminths

Multicellular eukaryotic animal parasites (worms) that begin as microscopic eggs and proceed to form larvae and adult stages.

Pathogenic Microorganisms

Microorganisms that cause disease.

Obligate Pathogens

cause disease with the need of a host

Opportunistic Pathogens

cause disease under proper conditions

Microbiome

All of the microbes that live stably in a particular environment.

Dysbiosis

A change in the microbiome or an overgrowth of a specific pathogenic microbe leading to disease.

Germ Theory

The theory that certain diseases are caused by microorganisms.

eukaryotic

nucleus

specialized cells

prokaryotic

lack nucleus

small specialized cells

asexual

exact copy

sexual

unique copy

microbiome

all of the microbes that live stably in a particular environment

Which scenario below best describes a microbiome in dysbiosis?

A. A collection of over 700 bacteria living in the gut together.

B. C. difficile can outgrow other microbes in the gut and cause disease.

C. When eating yogurt the bacteria Lactobacillus is incorporated into the

gut.

D. A fungus in the gut only causes disease when the immune system is

weakened.

B

Which statement best describes the germ theory?

A. Germs can spontaneously appear to harm our body.

B. Germs become more abundant over time on our body.

C. Germs can cause diseases on our body.

D. Germs are present on this planet in the environment.

C

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Discovered small green like microorganisms or “animalcules” in lake water using a home made microscope

Louis Pasteur

Proved microbes are responsible for fermentation (sugar to alcohol)

Louis Pasteur

Disproved the idea that microbes come from nowhere

Joseph Lister

Treated wounds w/ antiseptic carbolic acid successfully

Robert Koch

Helped determine guidelines for proving a single microbe can causes a disease