Chapter 1: The Main Themes of Microbiology

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering basic concepts, fields, microbial types, pathogens, historical discoveries, and taxonomy from Chapter 1 of Talaro's Foundations in Microbiology.

What is microbiology?

The study of organisms too small to be seen without magnification.

What are the six major types of microorganisms studied in microbiology?

Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Protozoa, Algae, and Helminths (worms).

Which CDC publication collects statistics on diseases in communities?

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

How does genetic engineering differ from general biotechnology?

Biotechnology relies on the natural abilities of microbes, whereas genetic engineering is the deliberate alteration of the genetic makeup of organisms to create novel microbes, plants, and animals with unique behaviors and physiology.

What branch of microbiology studies the complex web of protective substances and reactions caused by invading microbes?

Immunology.

What are the primary structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotes are microscopic, unicellular organisms that lack nuclei and membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are unicellular or multicellular organisms that contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

How are viruses defined in terms of cell structure?

Viruses are acellular, parasitic particles composed of a nucleic acid and protein.

Which protozoan species is noted for having tufts of cilia that function like tiny legs?

Oxytricha trifallax.

Which species of helminth causes trichinellosis by coiling in the muscle of a host?

Trichinella spiralis.

What is the distinction between photosynthesis and decomposition in ecosystems?

Photosynthesis is the light-fueled conversion of carbon dioxide to organic material, whereas decomposition is the breakdown of dead matter and wastes into simple compounds.

What is bioremediation?

The use of living organisms to remedy an environmental problem.

What defines a parasitic microorganism?

A parasite lives on or in the body of another organism called the host and damages the host.

What is the difference between emerging infectious diseases and reemerging infectious diseases?

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are new diseases and diseases increasing in incidence, whereas reemerging infectious diseases are older, well-known diseases that are increasing in occurrence.

What are zoonoses?

Infectious diseases native to animals that can be transmitted to humans.

What was the timeline of drug resistance development in Staphylococcus aureus between the 1950s and 1990s?

Penicillin resistance developed in the 1950s, methicillin resistance in the 1980s, and MRSA resistance to vancomycin in the 1990s.

Where and when was West Nile virus first diagnosed, and when did it first appear in New York City?

West Nile virus was first diagnosed in the West Nile region of Uganda in 1937 and appeared in New York City in 1999.

What type of agent causes Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)?

A prion.

What severe condition can be caused by the toxin-producing strain Escherichia coli O157:H7 when severe infection occurs?

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a condition in which the kidneys start to shut down.

When was HIV/AIDS first identified, and what percentage of infected people in the United States do not know they have it?

AIDS/HIV was first identified in 1981, and an estimated 14% (or 1 in 7) of people living with HIV in the United States did not know they had it.

What was the early belief of spontaneous generation, and what theory replaced it?

Spontaneous generation was the belief that life could arise from vital forces present in nonliving or decomposing matter; it was replaced by the Theory of Biogenesis, which states that living things can only arise from other living things.

Which scientist disproved spontaneous generation and established the Theory of Biogenesis?

Louis Pasteur.

In the scientific method, what is a scientific theory?

A viable explanation of why things happen that is supported by extensive data and has yet to be disproved by scientific methods.

In what year was smallpox officially considered eradicated worldwide?

1979 (following the last natural case in 1977).

Which scientist determined that heat-resistant bacterial forms were endospores?

Ferdinand Cohn.

What requirement must be met to achieve sterility?

The elimination of all life forms, including endospores, viruses, and prions.

What correlation did Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis observe regarding maternity ward infections?

He correlated infections with physicians coming directly from the autopsy room to the maternity ward.

What medical techniques did Joseph Lister introduce to prevent wound infections?

Aseptic techniques, including chemical disinfection of hands prior to surgery and the use of heat for sterilization.

What are the core rules of binomial nomenclature for naming organisms?

Each organism is given a two-part name consisting of a capitalized Genus name and a lowercase species name, with both terms being italicized or underlined.

What are the Three Domains of Life?

Bacteria (true bacteria), Archaea (odd bacteria living in extreme environments), and Eukarya (organisms with a nucleus and organelles).