Microbiology and Macromolecules Lecture Review

Flashcards covering basic microbiology topics including macromolecules, bacterial structure, fungal and helminth characteristics, viral properties, microbial growth and metabolism, infection steps, identification methods, and specific clinical diseases.

What are the three core elements that make up carbohydrates and lipids?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Which macromolecule is made of amino acids and functions as enzymes, structure, and transport?

Proteins

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA?

Nucleotides

Identify the four main shapes of bacteria described in the notes.

Cocci (spherical), Bacilli (rod-shaped), Spirilla/Spirochetes (spiral-shaped), and Vibrios (comma-shaped)

What is the primary difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell walls?

Gram-positive has a thick peptidoglycan layer, while Gram-negative has a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane

What names are given to the region containing bacterial DNA and the small extra DNA circles?

Nucleoid (region containing DNA) and Plasmids (small extra DNA circles)

According to the notes, what is the definition of an opportunistic fungal infection?

Infections caused by low-virulence species infecting already weakened individuals, such as Mucomycosis

In helminth development, distinguish between intermediate, definitive, and transport hosts.

The intermediate host is where the larva develops; the definitive host is where adulthood and mating occur; the transport host is an intermediate with no parasitic development

What is the scientific name and size range of the pinworm?

Enterobius vermicularis; it ranges from $2$ to $12\,\text{mm}$ long

How many virus particles are estimated to be on Earth?

$10^{31}$ virus particles

What is the size range for the smallest and largest viruses mentioned?

Smallest: parvoviruses (around $20\,\text{nm}$ diameter); Largest: herpes simplex virus (around $150\,\text{nm}$ length)

Define Psychrophiles and their temperature requirements.

Microbes with an optimum temperature below $15^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($59^{\circ}\text{F}$), capable of growth at $0^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($32^{\circ}\text{F}$), and unable to grow above $20^{\circ}\text{C}$

What are the temperature ranges for Mesophiles and where do human pathogens specifically fall?

Mesophiles grow between $20^{\circ}\text{C}$ and $40^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($68^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $104^{\circ}\text{F}$); human pathogens have optimal temperatures between $30^{\circ}\text{C}$ and $40^{\circ}\text{C}$ ($86^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $104^{\circ}\text{F}$)

Describe the four phases of the bacterial population growth curve.

Lag phase (adaptation), Exponential log phase (rapid growth/division), Stationary phase (division equals death), and Death phase (population declines)

What are the key differences between Aerobic respiration, Anaerobic respiration, and Fermentation?

Aerobic uses $O_2$ as a final electron acceptor; Anaerobic uses inorganic molecules other than $O_2$; Fermentation uses only glycolysis and produces small amounts of ATP without the Krebs cycle or ETC

Define the terms Prophylaxis and Antibiotics.

Prophylaxis is the use of a drug to prevent infection before it occurs; Antibiotics are substances produced by natural metabolic processes of microorganisms that inhibit or destroy others

What is the specific infectious dose ($ID$) for Q fever and Cholera?

Q fever requires a single cell ($1$); Cholera requires $1,000,000,000$ cells

What is the difference between Exotoxins (like Hemolysins) and Endotoxins?

Exotoxins are enzymes/toxins secreted by microbes; Endotoxins are Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) found in Gram-negative cell walls that cause fever and inflammation

What is the difference between Horizontal and Vertical transmission of disease?

Horizontal transmission spreads through a population from one individual to another; Vertical transmission is from parent to offspring via ovum, sperm, placenta, or milk

In microbial identification, what are the differences between Specificity and Sensitivity?

Specificity is the property of a test to focus on a certain antibody or antigen without reacting to unrelated ones; Sensitivity is the ability to detect even minute quantities of antibodies or antigens

What are the signs and symptoms of Impetigo?

Peeling skin, crusty and flaky scabs, or honey-colored crusts typically found around the mouth, face, and extremities

How does shingles reemerge and what are the two licensed prevention methods?

It reemerges after reactivation of latent chickenpox virus (Herpes Zoster) due to stress or immunosuppression; prevention includes a live attenuated vaccine (1995) and Zostavax (2006)

How do clinical signs of bacterial conjunctivitis differ from viral or allergic conjunctivitis?

Bacterial infections produce a milky discharge; viral and allergic infections produce a clear, watery exudate/fluid

What is Congenital Zika virus syndrome?

A condition in infants including small head (microcephaly), vision problems, involuntary movements, seizures, and brain stem dysfunction

Describe Brudzinski’s sign in the context of meningitis.

A physical sign where bending the neck causes involuntary flexion of the hip and knees

What is the causative agent and mechanism of Tetanus?

Caused by Clostridium tetani; it releases Tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin that blocks muscle inhibition, causing uncontrollable contractions