human anatomy 4

What is the human microbiome?

All microbes living on or in a healthy human

How does the composition of the microbiome vary from one individual to another?

It varies greatly from one individual to another, and from one body region to another

What is the most common way that the human microbiome becomes disrupted?

Overuse of Antibiotics

What was the main finding of the Human Microbiome Project?

Microbial cells outnumber human cells 10 to 1

When do children build their microbiomes?

During birth

What happens when children are born by Caesarean section rather than through the birth canal?

They are not exposed to bacteria from the birth canal so they are more susceptible to allergies/illnesses

How is the human microbiome related to diseases that appear to be of genetic origin?

Certain illnesses thought to be caused by genetics may actually be caused by bacterial genes

What is the purpose of the capsule in bacteria?

Prevents them from drying out

What do you know about bacteria that have a capsule?

They are more likely to cause disease

What allows bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance?

Plasmids (small circular DNA) can be transferred from one bacteria to another

What is the shape and configuration of staphylococci bacteria? What about streptococci bacteria?

CLUSTERS of circular/spherical bacteria; CHAINS of circular/spherical bacteria

What type of bacteria is most susceptible to antibiotics like penicillin that attach peptidoglycan?

Gram positive (remain purple because thick layer of peptidoglycan holds the dye/stain)

How would you describe a virus?

Genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by protein

Why do fungal infections begin on the skin or in the lungs?

Tiny spores move through the air

What are pathogens?

Microbes that cause disease

Bacteria

make up the largest portion of the human microbiome

Pilli

hairlike projections that allow bacteria to attach to other cells or surfaces

Cocci

round/spherical bacteria

Bacilli

rod-shaped bacteria

Spirilla

spiral-shaped bacteria

Envelope

spikey lipid outer membrane of some viruses

Capsid

protein coat surrounding viral genetic material

Plasmid

small loops of bacterial DNA

Gram-positive

stains purple due to thick layer of peptidoglycan

Gram-negative

stains pink due to think layer of peptidoglycan

Virus

extremely small infectious agents which usually cannot be seen under a light microscope

Fungi

live in the air, in soil, or on plants