High Yield Section 1 Microbio

Prokaryote vs Eukaryote

Prokaryote: no nucleus, circular DNA, small. Eukaryote: nucleus, linear DNA, organelles.

Gram+ vs Gram-

Gram+: thick peptidoglycan, teichoic acids, purple. Gram-: thin peptidoglycan, outer membrane with LPS, pink.

Pathogenicity vs Virulence

Pathogenicity: ability to cause disease. Virulence: severity/degree of disease caused.

Endotoxin vs Exotoxin

Exotoxin: protein, secreted, specific, potent. Endotoxin: lipid A of LPS, Gram- only, general, less potent.

Opportunistic pathogen

Normally harmless but causes disease in immunocompromised host.

Biofilm

Microbial community in EPS; antibiotic-resistant, chronic infections.

Fimbriae vs Pili

Fimbriae: adhesion. Pili: adhesion + DNA transfer.

Light vs Electron microscopy

Light: visible light, ~1000x. Electron: uses electrons, higher resolution.

Simple vs Differential stain

Simple: one dye, morphology only. Differential: multiple dyes, distinguishes types (e.g., Gram stain).

Acid-fast bacteria

Contain mycolic acid; stained with acid-fast method (e.g., Mycobacterium).