Bacteria, I hate microbiology

Obligate Aerobe

Organisms that require a constant supply of oxygen in order to live

Obligate ANAerobe

Organisms that are killed in the presence of oxygen and must live in the absence of oxygen

Facultative Aerobe

Organisms that can survive w/ or w/o oxygen, can live just about anywhere

Capsule

Outside of the cell wall and made up of polysaccharide(carbohydrates)

Endospore

Thick wall that forms inside a cell when conditions of an environment are unfavorable for growth

Pili

Short stiff hair-like structures on the outside of a bacterial cell that are used to attach the bacteria to a food source or to one another

Flagella

Long whip-like structure used for movement

Prokaryote

A cell that has no nucleus or membrane bound organelles

What’s the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Prokaryotic cells: singular, circular chromosome

Eukaryotic cells: singular, linear chromosome

What are the domains and kingdoms bacteria classified in?

Domain 1- Archaea

Kingdom: Archaebacteria

Domain 2- Bacteria

Kingdom: Eubacteria

One of the major differences in these 2 groups of bacteria is in the composition of the cell wall. True bacteria have what type of polysaccharide in the cell wall?

Peptidoglycan

What two ways can bacteria cause diseases?

1. Damage the cells + tissue

2. Release toxins/poisons into the host’s body

Give 2 reasons why bacteria are so successful

1. Adaptability

2. Population

What term is used to describe bacteria that are capable of causing diseases?

Pathogens

Bacteria that are NOT capable of making their own food are called?

Heterotrophs

This type of bacteria live on dead organic matter

Saprophytes

Bacteria that ARE capable of making their own food are called?

Autotrophs

This is a type of asexual reproduction where the bacterial cell divides to form two identical cells

Binary Fission

This type of bacterial “reproduction” occurs when two bacterial cells are connected in order to exchange genetic material

Conjugation

Bacteria have the ability to “fix” nitrogen into compounds other organisms can use. Why is nitrogen so important to all living things?

Plants and animals can’t use nitrogen gas directly to make amino acids(proteins) so they rely on bacteria to convert the nitrogen into nitrates, which plants can use, and animals can consume into their own proteins

A weakened or killed form of a pathogen that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies

Vaccine

A close and permanent relationship between two organisms is called?

Symbiosis

The relationship is beneficial to both species

Mutualism

A relationship in which one species benefits from the association while the other is neither harmed or helped

Commensalism

A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is harmed

Parasitism

What are the three archaeal groups?

1. Methanogens

2. Halophiles

3. Thermoacidophiles

What habitat do Methanogens live in?

ANAaerobic environments (deep fresh water, marine mud, swamp mud, sewage) + digestive tracts of cows and termites

What habitat do Halophiles live in?

“Salt-loving”, very high salt concentration environments (Great Salt Lake + Dead Sea)

What habitat do Thermoacidophiles live in?

Acidic environments w/ high temperatures of 110 degrees Celsius and pH less than 2 (hot springs and “black smokers”-hydrothermal vents)

List 5 cell organelles that are never found in bacteria and explain why they are not found in bacteria

1. Nucleus

2. Mitochondria

3. Chloroplasts

4. Lysosomes

5. Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

They are not found in bacteria because bacteria are prokaryotic

What cellular organelles are found in a bacterial cell?

1. Nucleoid (genetic material)

2. Ribosome (synthesize proteins)

3. Cytoplasm (gel-like fluid for transport)

4. Pili

5. Cell membrane (controls what enters and leaves the cell)

6. Cell wall (protection + shape)

7. Capsule

8. Endospore

9. Flagella

Name 4 characteristics of how prokaryotes are identified/classified

1. Shape (tic-tac, sphere, spiral/corkscrew)

2. Materials composing the cell wall

3. The way they move

4. The way they obtain energy

What are the three shapes of bacteria? How are they shaped?

1. Cocci (spherical)

2. Bacilli (rod-shaped/tic-tac)

3. Spirilli (sprial shaped or curved/corkscrew)

What are the three functions of a capsule?

1. Enables prokaryotes to adhere to their substrate or to other individuals in the colony

2. Protect against dehydration

3. Shield pathogenic bacteria from attacks from their host’s immune system

What are PHOTOautotrophs?

-Photosynthetic organisms

-Use light energy from the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water to glucose and oxygen

What are CHEMOautotrophs?

-Use energy from inorganic reactions as a source of energy to build molecules of glucose

What 4 limitations prevent prokaryotic reproduction?

1. Eventual exhausting of food supply

2. Being poisoned by their own metabolic waste

3. Competition from other microbes

4. Being consumed by other organisms

What is the purpose of conjugation?

To increase the genetic diversity in future populations

List 3 reasons why bacteria are important to man

1. Decomposition

2. Digestion

3. Medicine

What are 3 methods of movement in prokaryotes?

1. Flagella

2. Pili

3. Gliding

What are the 5 characteristics of the best environment for growth for bacteria?

1. Suitable temperature” 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit

2. Moisture

3. Suitable food source

4. Darkness

5. Space to grow

What is the size difference between bacteria and viruses

Bacteria are very large compared to a virus

What is a plasmid?

-Small, circular DNA molecule found in bacteria.

-Physically separate from chromosomal DNA and replicate separately

- DO NOT depend on the organism’s chromosomal DNA for replication

What are antibiotics?

-Compounds that kill bacteria

-Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, NO EFFECT on viruses

Cell structure of a prokaryotic cell LABELED