1 - The Microbial World and You Flashcards

Destructive actions of microbes

Pathogenic, causes food spoilage 

Beneficial actions of microbes

basis of the food chain in aquatic environments, decompose organic waste, generate oxygen in the atmosphere, incorporate nitrogen into organic compounds 

Microbial role in medicine/food

produce chemical products like vitamins, fermented foods, and products used in manufacturing like cellulose and insulin 

Percentage of bacterial cells in the human body

57%, 40 trillion bacterial cells + 30 trillion body cells.

Prokaryotic microbial groups

Bacteria and Archaea 

Eukaryotic microbial groups

Fungi, Protozoa, Algae, Viruses, Multicellular animal parasites 

How was spontaneous generation disproved?

1861 Louis Pasteur performed Pasteur’s experiment with a bent neck flask which resulted in the discovery that microbes have non-zero mass and originate in air or fluids.

The Germ theory of disease.

A scientific principle that some infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa; that invade and multiply within a host organism

Cell theory

All organisms are composed of one or more cells, the cell is the basic unit of structure and organization in organisms, and all cells originate from preexisting cells.

Importance of Koch’s postulates

It establishes a relationship between a microbe and a disease.

It must: (1) be present in all cases of the disease (2) be isolated from diseased patients (3) cause disease when reintroduced to a healthy susceptible animal model (4) and then be isolated again from the new host.

What is the significance of Jenner’s discovery? Pasteur’s contributions?

The discovery brought forth the first vaccine (smallpox) and the notion of immunity to diseases, while pasture contributed by creating lab-made vaccines with weakened pathogens.

Bacteriology

the study of bacteria

Mycology

the study of fungi

Parasitology

the study of protozoa and parasitic worms

Immunology

the study of immunity

Virology

the study of viruses

Microbial genetics

The study of how microbes inherit traits.

Molecular biology

The study of how genetic information is carried in molecules of DNA.

Genomics

the study of an organism's genes.

Beneficial activities of microorganisms

Recycle sewage water, recycle vital elements, biomediation (clean pollutants), insect pest control

Biotechnology

The use of microbes for practical applications, such as producing foods and chemicals.

Recombinant DNA technology

A precise set of laboratory genetic engineering techniques used to combine DNA sequences from different organisms; enables bacteria and fungi to produce a variety of proteins, vaccines, and enzymes

Normal microbiota

Microbes normally present in and on the human body, prevent pathogen growth, and produce vitamins B & K.

Infectious disease

Disease that results when a pathogen invades a host and overcomes the host's resistance.

Why are biofilms important?

They are microbes attached to solid surfaces and grow into complex masses that can protect mucous membranes from harmful organisms and provide food in aquatic ecosystems.