Water Microbiology and Genetic Transfer Mechanisms

These flashcards focus on key concepts in water microbiology, methods for detecting pathogens, and mechanisms of genetic transfer in bacteria.

Public drinking water is tested and treated to ensure that it is __ and free from contamination with microbes.

potable

Pathogens that may be present in contaminated drinking water include __, __, and __.

Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Norovirus

Fecal contamination of water can come from and .

humans, animals

Coliform bacteria are known to be __, __, and ferment lactose producing acid and gas.

Gram-negative bacillus, facultative anaerobes

The medium Rapid'E. coli 2 Agar is used for the detection of __ and other coliforms in food and water.

E. coli

Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) is used to differentiate between __ and non-coliforms.

lactose fermenters

Hektoen Enteric Agar (HEA) differentiates Salmonella and Shigella by using __ to detect sulfur reduction.

ferrous ammonium citrate

Transduction occurs when a __ makes a mistake during the infection process, transferring DNA.

phage

Lytic infections involve the __ of a bacterial cell to release new phages.

lysis

In lysogenic infections, the phage DNA integrates into the bacterial chromosome as a __.

prophage

To identify enteric bacteria, differential media is used to observe enzymatic activities such as the hydrolysis of __ in Simmon’s Citrate Agar.

sodium citrate

The indicator phenol red in TSI Agar changes to in acidic pH and to in alkaline pH.

yellow, pink-red

Black precipitate in SIM medium indicates a __ reduction by the bacteria.

sulfur

Transformation results show that E. coli bacteria can be transformed with a plasmid containing the gene for __.

beta-lactamase

The term __ refers to the transfer of genetic information through a sex pilus.

conjugation

The process by which bacteria can pick up free DNA from the environment is known as __.

transformation

The presence of coliforms in water indicates potential __ contamination.

fecal

In TSI Agar, a yellow slant and yellow butt indicate that the bacteria fermented both and .

glucose, sucrose or lactose

In the laboratory setup for the E. coli experiment, you will prepare serial __ and plate the samples.

dilutions

The __ enzyme hydrolyzes urea, resulting in an alkaline pH change in Urea Agar.

urease