Microbe Mission Flashcards

Bright-field light microscope

A type of microscope that uses visible light and a system of lenses to magnify images of small samples.

Parts of a bright-field light microscope

Includes eyepiece, objective lenses, stage, light source, and diaphragm.

Comparative microscopy

The comparison between light microscopy (bright-field, dark-field, phase contrast) and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).

TEM

Transmission Electron Microscopy, used to view the internal structures of cells.

SEM

Scanning Electron Microscopy, used to view the surface structures of specimens.

Estimate size of microbes

Use scale bars provided in images to estimate microbial dimensions.

Bacterial cell structure

Includes membrane, cell wall, flagella, pilus, fimbria, nucleoid, cytoplasm.

Gram-positive cells

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer that retains the crystal violet stain.

Gram-negative cells

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer, which does not retain the crystal violet stain.

Gram stain procedure

A laboratory technique used to differentiate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Bacterial cell shapes

Includes vibrio (comma-shaped), bacillus (rod-shaped), coccus (spherical), and spirochete (spiral-shaped).

Virus structure

Basic components include genetic material (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat (capsid).

Specialized organelles in bacteria

Includes gas vesicles, endospores, contractile vacuoles, eyespots, carboxysomes.

Microbial life strategy

Characteristics of microbes determined by their habitat and life strategy.

Culture methods for bacteria

Different methods for culturing bacteria include liquid cultures and agar plates.

Selective media

A type of growth medium that inhibits the growth of certain bacteria while allowing others to grow.

Differential media

A growth medium that distinguishes between different types of bacteria based on their biochemical properties.

Bacterial growth curves

Graphs representing the growth of bacteria over time, indicating phases such as lag, log, stationary, and death.

CFUs

Colony Forming Units, a measure used to estimate the number of viable bacteria in a sample.

Binary fission

The process by which bacteria divide, involving genome replication and cell division.

Origin of replication

The location on the genome where DNA replication begins.

DNA unwinding element

A region of DNA that unwinds to allow access for replication enzymes.

DNA polymerase

The enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands during replication.

Sterilization techniques

Methods such as heat, ultraviolet radiation, filtration, and chemicals used to eliminate microbes.

Disinfection techniques

Procedures to reduce or eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens from surfaces.

Microbial metabolic strategies

Ways in which microbes acquire carbon and energy for growth and reproduction.

Fermentation

An anaerobic process by which microbes convert sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol.

Nitrogen fixation

The process by which certain microbes convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.

Photosynthesis in microbes

The process by which microbes convert light energy into chemical energy.

Endosymbiotic theory

The hypothesis that eukaryotic cells originated through a symbiotic relationship between prokaryotic cells.

Adaptations to extreme conditions

Biological adjustments in microbes that allow them to survive in harsh environments, such as high temperature or salinity.

Lytic cycle

A viral reproductive cycle that results in the lysis of the host cell and the release of new viral particles.

Lysogenic cycle

A viral reproductive cycle where the viral DNA integrates into the host cell's genome.

Horizontal gene transfer

The transfer of genetic material between organisms in a manner other than traditional reproduction.

Mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer

Includes transduction, conjugation, and transformation.

Community interactions between microbes

Interactions such as cooperation, commensalism, predation, and parasitism that occur in microbial communities.

16S amplicon sequencing

A technique used to analyze bacterial community compositions and diversity.

Escherichia coli

A common bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals; can be pathogenic.

Rickettsia rickettsii

Bacteria responsible for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Mycobacterium leprae

Causative agent of leprosy.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Bacteria that cause tuberculosis.

Microcystis aeruginosa

A cyanobacterium known for producing toxins in water bodies.

Staphylococcus aureus

Bacteria that can cause a range of infections, including skin infections.

Helicobacter pylori

Bacteria associated with gastric ulcers and stomach cancer.

Pyrococcus furiosus

A hyperthermophilic archaeon that thrives in extreme temperatures.

Plasmodium falciparum

A protozoan parasite that causes malaria.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast used in baking and brewing.

Nannochloropsis sp.

A microalga known for its potential in biofuel production.

Escherichia virus T4

A bacteriophage that infects E. coli.

Escherichia virus Lambda

A bacteriophage with a lysogenic life cycle that infects E. coli.

Measles virus

A virus that causes measles, a highly contagious disease.

Smallpox virus

A virus that caused smallpox, which has been eradicated through vaccination.

SARS-CoV-2 virus

The virus responsible for COVID-19.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

The virus that causes AIDS, compromising the immune system.

Major Prion protein

A protein associated with prion diseases that cause neurodegeneration.

Experimental results interpretation

The process of analyzing data obtained from experiments to draw valid conclusions.

Evidence-based conclusions

Conclusions drawn from data that are supported by scientific evidence.

Phase contrast microscopy

A light microscopy technique that enhances contrast in transparent and colorless specimens.

Dark-field microscopy

A microscopy technique that allows observation of specimens that are nearly invisible against a bright background.

Vibrio

A genus of bacteria that are curved rod-shaped.

Bacillus

A term used to describe rod-shaped bacteria.

Coccus

A term used to describe spherical-shaped bacteria.

Spirochete

A genus of bacteria characterized by a spiral shape.

Peptidoglycan layer

A structural component of bacterial cell walls, providing strength.

Agar plates

Petri dishes containing a gelatinous substance used for bacterial growth.

Liquid cultures

Nutrient solutions used for growing bacteria in a liquid state.

Sterility

A condition in which all living microorganisms have been eliminated.

Filtration method

A process used to separate microbes from liquids by passing them through a filter.

Ultraviolet radiation

A type of electromagnetic radiation used for sterilization and disinfection.

Chemical sterilization

Use of chemicals to eliminate all forms of microbial life.

Microbial ecology

The study of how microbes interact with each other and their environment.

Viruses

Subcellular agents that can infect living cells and can only replicate within them.

Microbial fermentation process

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Microbial roles in ecosystems

Microbes contribute to nutrient cycling, decomposition, and primary production in ecosystems.

Biofuel production

The generation of fuels from biological materials, heavily reliant on microbial processes.

Nitrogen cycle

The series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside another.

Virulent factors

Molecular tools used by microorganisms to establish infection.

Eukaryotic microbes

Microorganisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed within membranes.

Archaea characteristics

Single-celled microorganisms that are distinct from bacteria, often extremophiles.

Morphology of microbes

The study of the shape and structure of microorganisms.

Pathogenic bacteria

Bacteria capable of causing disease in hosts.

Microbial diversity

The variety of life forms in a particular environment or ecosystem.

DNA transformation

The process by which a cell takes up foreign DNA from its environment.

Cooperation in microbial communities

Interactions between microbes that are mutually beneficial.

Commensalism in microbiology

A type of symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits, and the other is unaffected.

Predation in microbial context

A relationship where one organism (predator) consumes another (prey).

Parasitism in microbes

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Alpha diversity

A measure of species diversity within a specific area or ecosystem.

Beta diversity

A measure of the change in diversity of species between ecosystems.

Microbial habitat

The environment in which a microorganism lives and thrives.

Human Microbiome

The collection of microorganisms living in the human body.

Cellular respiration

The metabolic processes that convert food into energy within cells.

Symbiotic relationships

Interactions between different species living in close proximity.

Antimicrobial resistance

The ability of microbes to resist the effects of medication that once treated them.

Pathogen identification

The methods used to determine which organism is causing an infection.

Microbial genetics

The study of how genes are transferred and expressed in microbes.

Microbiological techniques

Methods used to study microorganisms, including culturing and genetic analysis.

Clinical microbiology

The study of pathogenic microbes and their role in human disease.

Inhibitory effects in microbial growth

Factors that slow down or prevent the proliferation of microorganisms.