MICROFINAL

Scientific Names Format

Genus species; Genus = capitalized, species = lowercase, italicized.

Example of Scientific Name

Escherichia coli; after first use: E. coli.

Koch’s Postulates - 1st Step

Microbe in diseased host.

Koch’s Postulates - 2nd Step

Isolate & culture the microbe.

Koch’s Postulates - 3rd Step

Cause disease in healthy host.

Koch’s Postulates - 4th Step

Re-isolate the microbe.

Flaws of Koch’s Postulates

Some pathogens unculturable, ethical limits, carriers exist, polymicrobial diseases.

Domains of Life

Bacteria (prokaryote), Archaea (prokaryote), Eukarya (eukaryote).

Prokaryotic Structure - Cell Wall

Contains peptidoglycan in bacteria.

Prokaryotic Structure - Capsule

Functions in virulence.

Prokaryotic Structure - Flagella

Provides movement.

Prokaryotic Structure - Ribosomes

Involved in protein synthesis.

Prokaryotic Structure - Nucleoid

Houses the DNA.

Eukaryotic Cell Structures

Includes nucleus, mitochondria, ER, Golgi; lacks cell wall.

Difference - Archaea vs Bacteria

Archaea have no peptidoglycan and live in extreme environments.

Difference - Eukaryotic Cells

Contain membrane-bound organelles.

Structure of Viruses

Consist of capsid + nucleic acid ± envelope.

Visualization of Viruses

Seen with electron microscope.

Viral Life Cycle - Lytic

Involves replication and lysis.

Viral Life Cycle - Lysogenic

Involves integration into host DNA.

Envelope Formation in Viruses

Occurs by budding from host membrane.

Bacterial Morphology - Cocci

Spherical-shaped bacteria.

Bacterial Morphology - Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Bacterial Morphology - Spirilla

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Bacterial Arrangements

Diplo-, strepto-, staphylo-.

Gram Stain - Gram Positive

Thick cell wall, stains purple.

Gram Stain - Gram Negative

Thin cell wall, stains pink, has outer membrane.

Toxins - Exotoxin

Secreted by bacteria, mostly Gram +.

Toxins - Endotoxin

Part of Gram - bacteria, specifically LPS.

Toxins - Effects

Leads to fever and shock.

Transport Mechanisms

Includes diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport, osmosis.

Tonicity - Hypotonic

Causes cell swelling.

Tonicity - Hypertonic

Causes cell shrinkage.

Tonicity - Isotonic

No change in cell size.

Cellular Respiration - Glycolysis

Produces 2 ATP.

Cellular Respiration - Krebs Cycle

Produces 2 ATP.

Cellular Respiration - Electron Transport Chain

Produces 32–34 ATP.

Total ATP from Respiration

Total yield is 36–38 ATP.

Byproducts of Cellular Respiration

CO₂, H₂O, ATP.

Classification - Temperature

Psychrophile (cold), Mesophile (moderate), Thermophile (hot).

Classification - Oxygen Requirements

Obligate aerobe, obligate anaerobe, facultative anaerobe, microaerophile.

Biosafety Levels - BSL-1

Minimal risk.

Biosafety Levels - BSL-2

Moderate risk.

Biosafety Levels - BSL-3

Airborne pathogens.

Biosafety Levels - BSL-4

Extreme risk (Ebola-level pathogens).

Cell Division in Bacteria

Occurs through binary fission.

Cell Division in Yeast

Occurs through budding.

Bacterial Growth Stages - Lag Phase

Phase where bacteria adapt.

Bacterial Growth Stages - Log Phase

Phase of rapid growth.

Bacterial Growth Stages - Stationary Phase

Equal growth and death rates.

Bacterial Growth Stages - Death Phase

Phase of decline.

Antimicrobial Term - Bacteriostatic

Inhibits bacterial growth.

Antimicrobial Term - Bactericidal

Kills bacteria.

Antimicrobial Term - Fungicide

Kills fungi.

Antimicrobial Term - Sterilant

Kills all microbes.

Control Method - Autoclave

Uses steam under pressure.

Control Method - Iodophor

Iodine disinfectant.

Control Method - Peroxide

Acts as an oxidizing agent.

Levels of Microbial Control - Sterilization

Destroys all microbes.

Levels of Microbial Control - Disinfection

Destroys most microbes.

Levels of Microbial Control - Antisepsis

Applied to tissue.

Antibiotic - Penicillin

Targets cell wall synthesis.

Antibiotic - Cephalosporin

Targets cell wall.

Antibiotic - Aminoglycosides

Inhibits protein synthesis (e.g., streptomycin).

Antibiotic - Polymyxin B

Targets cell membrane.

Fungi and Helminths - Treatment Difficulty

Similar to human cells, hard to treat.

Fungal Reproduction - Plasmogamy

Fusion of cytoplasm.

Fungal Reproduction - Karyogamy

Fusion of nuclei.

Fungal Reproduction - Meiosis

Leads to spore formation.

Fungal Groups - Zygomycetes

One of the major groups of fungi.

Fungal Groups - Ascomycetes

One of the major groups of fungi.

Fungal Groups - Basidiomycetes

One of the major groups of fungi.

Fungal Spores - Conidiospore

Asexual spore type.

Fungal Spores - Ascospore

Sexual spore type.

Diagnostics - Serology

Detection of antibodies.

Diagnostics - ELISA

Detects antigens/antibodies.

Diagnostics - Western Blot

Detects proteins.

Diagnostics - Southern Blot

Detects DNA.

Diagnostics - NAAT (PCR)

Detects DNA/RNA.

DNA Characteristics - DNA

Double-stranded, contains thymine.

DNA Characteristics - RNA

Single-stranded, contains uracil.

Central Dogma of Molecular Biology

Replication → DNA; Transcription → RNA; Translation → Protein.

Operon Type - Lac Operon

Inducible, activated by lactose.

Operon Type - Trp Operon

Repressible, deactivated by tryptophan.

Microbiota Types - Resident

Permanent microbes in the body.

Microbiota Types - Transient

Temporary microbes in the body.

Vaginal Microbiota

Dominated by Lactobacillus species.

Infection Term - Local vs Systemic

Infection restricted to one area vs spread throughout the body.

Infection Term - Bacteremia

Presence of bacteria in blood.

Infection Term - Septicemia

Presence of bacteria + toxins in blood.

Infection Term - Sepsis

Severe systemic response to infection.

Infection Term - Fomite

Contaminated inanimate object.

Infection Term - Zoonotic

Disease transferred from animals to humans.

Signs vs Symptoms

Signs are observable; symptoms are felt.

Stages of Infection - Incubation

Time period after infection before symptoms appear.

Stages of Infection - Prodromal

Initial symptoms appear, often nonspecific.

Stages of Infection - Illness

Peak of disease, specific symptoms evident.

Stages of Infection - Decline

Symptoms begin to subside.

Stages of Infection - Recovery

Return to health.

Digestive Tract - Mouth Function

Ingestion occurs in the mouth.