Macromolecules & Microorganisms in Disease

These are flashcards of Nurse Cheung's Macromolecules & Microorganisms in Disease Study Guide YouTube video.

What is the monomer of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharide

Which type of macromolecule plays a key role in forming cellular membranes?

Lipids

Which of the following is a characteristic of fungi?

They have a cell wall made of chitin

Which type of microorganism causes malaria?

Protozoa

What is a unique feature of viruses compared to other microorganisms?

They require a host cell to replicate

Which microscope would be best for viewing the detailed external morphology of a microoarganism?

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Which type of transmission involves infectious particles suspended in the air over time and distance?

Airborne transmission

Which disease is known to be transmitted through droplet spread?

Influenza

What do Carbohydrates consist of?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms (CHO)

What are Lipids?

Diverse group of organic compounds consisting of fats, waxes, and vitamins

Bonus: (CHO)

What are proteins?

Large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acids
Bonus: (CHON)

What are Nucleic Acids?

Large biomolecules in all cells and viruses

• Sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base

Bonus: (CHONP)

What is a Monomer?

A building block - a molecule that can react together with other monomers to form a larger polymer chain

What do words ending with “ose” mean?

They are some form of carbohydrate

What are the different types of Saccharides?

Monosaccharide - Single, simple sugar molecules. They are the building blocks of all other saccharides

• Examples: Glucose, Fructose, Galactose

Disaccharide - Molecules formed when two monosaccharides are linked together

• Example: Sucrose, Lactose, and Maltose

Polysaccharide - Long, complex chains of monosaccharide units linked together. They function primarily as energy storage or structural components

• Example: Starch, Glycogen, and Cellulose

Why are carbohydrates important to an organism’s structure and function?

Cell Walls:

• Cellulose - Plant cell wall

• Chitin - Fungi cell wall

Cellular Respiration:

• Glucose - an energy source; used to make ATP

• ATP - Adenosine and Triphosphate

What are the different types of lipids?

Triglycerides, Phospholipids, and Steroids

Which of these in Incorrect about Lipids?

Lipids are mainly made of sugars and carbs

Why are Lipids important to an organism’s structure and function?

Cell membranes

Long-term energy storage
Insulation

• Carries electrical impulses (in myelin sheath)

• Temperature regulation (in animals)

Hormones

Why are Proteins important to an organism’s structure and function?

Amino Acid - Monomer of protein

Structure

• Muscle Tissue

• Hair Follicle

• Collagen

Cell Membranes/Receptors

• Protein Channels

• Cell Receptor

Enzymes/Antibodies/Hormones

Why are Nucleic Acids important to an organism’s structure and function?

Nucleotide - Monomer of Nucleic Acids

Genetic Information

What does Pathogenic mean?

Bacteria, Viruses, and other types of germs that can cause some kind of disease

What does Virulence mean?

How severe or harmful the disease is

What is a Virus?

A pathogen that is an Intracellular Obligate Parasite (not alive; becomes active when inside of a host)

• Size - 20 to 400 nM

• Genome - containing both DNA and RNA

• Contains both a Genome (the center) and a Capsid (outside shell)

• Disease examples: Chicken pox, HIV, COVID, common cold, HPV, Polio

What is a Bacteria?

A living organism, Prokaryote (DNA floats freely in a central region of the cell called the nucleoid, without a membrane) with two types of walls: Gram positive (thick cell wall) and Gram Negative (thin cell wall and additional outer membrane)

• Size - 0.2 to 15 microns

• Two different shapes: Cocci (circle bacteria) and Bacilli (rod bacteria)

• Two main formations: Staph (cluster formation) and Strep (line formation)

• Aerobic (needs oxygen) and Anaerobic (doesn’t need oxygen)

• Disease examples: Chlamydia, Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Streptococcus (Strep Throat), Tetanus

What is a Fungi?

A living organism, Eukaryotic (DNA is securely enclosed within a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus)

• Size - 2 to 200 microns

• Chitin - Cell Wall

• Reproduces both sexual and asexual (through spores)

• Disease examples: Ringworm, Athletes Foot, Thrush

What is a Protozoa

A living organism, Eukaryotic (DNA is securely enclosed within a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus) that consists of cysts

• Size - 1 to 50 microns

• Unicellular - a living thing that is made of only one single cell

• Disease examples: Malaria, Giardiasis

What are Animals?

A living organism, Eukaryotic (DNA is securely enclosed within a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus) consisting of Helminths (worms) and Ectoparasites

• Size - 3 mL to 10 m

• Helminths shape matters: Round (Hookworms), Flat (Tapeworms), Flukes (Liver Flukes)

• Ectoparasite Examples: Mites, Fleas, Bed Bugs, Ticks

What is the difference between Infectious and Non-Infectious diseases?

Infectious - can be spread from one person to another

• COVID

• Flu

• Chicken Pox

Non-Infectious - Cannot be spread from one person to another and not cause by microorganisms

• Diabetes

• Heart Disease

• Cancer

What are ways Infectious Diseases can spread?

Direct:

Direct Contact

• Oral Secretions

• Blood

• Infectious Fluids

Droplet Spread

• Infection Droplets (typically less than 2 meters)

Indirect:

Airborne Spread - Infectious agents carried by dust

Fomite Transmission - Contact with infected surfaces

• Hard Surfaces like plastic, stainless steel can contain viruses longer

• Porous Surfaces like fabrics are less likely to have long-living viruses

Vector:

Active - Biological Vectors

Passive - Mechanical Vectors

What is the difference between Magnification and Resolution in Microscopes?

Magnification - Action or process of magnifying something (makes it bigger, duh)

Resolution - Ability of microscope to distinguish details of a specimen or sample