Microbiology Exam #3

Sure! I'll create digital flashcards in a text format so you can easily copy them into a flashcard app like Quizlet or Anki. Here are the flashcards broken down by topic:

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### Viruses (Chapter 13)

Front: Define host.

Back: An organism that a virus infects and replicates inside.

Front: Define virus.

Back: A non-living infectious agent made of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat.

Front: Define phage.

Back: A virus that specifically infects bacteria (bacteriophage).

Front: Define prion.

Back: A misfolded protein that causes infectious diseases in animals by inducing normal proteins to misfold.

Front: Define antigenic drift.

Back: Small mutations in viral genes over time that lead to changes in surface proteins, reducing immune recognition.

Front: Define antigenic shift.

Back: A major change in a virus's genome due to genetic reassortment, creating a new subtype that can lead to pandemics.

Front: What is the function of the viral genome?

Back: Contains the genetic information required for viral replication and infection. It can be DNA or RNA, single- or double-stranded.

Front: What is the function of the capsid?

Back: Protects the viral genome and helps in attachment to host cells. Made of protein subunits called capsomeres.

Front: What is the nucleocapsid?

Back: The combination of the viral genome and capsid.

Front: What are virus attachment proteins?

Back: Proteins (e.g., spike proteins) that help viruses attach to and enter host cells.

Front: What is the function of the matrix protein?

Back: Links the viral envelope to the capsid, providing structural support.

Front: What is the viral envelope?

Back: A lipid bilayer derived from the host membrane that surrounds some viruses, aiding in entry and exit.

Front: What do viral genes encode for?

Back: Structural proteins (capsid, attachment proteins), enzymes for replication, and regulatory proteins.

Front: Why do viruses infect specific hosts or tissues?

Back: Due to specific interactions between viral attachment proteins and host cell receptors.

Front: What are the shapes of viruses?

Back: Icosahedral, helical, and complex.

Front: What is antigenic drift?

Back: Gradual mutations in viral genes leading to changes in surface proteins.

Front: What is antigenic shift?

Back: A major genetic change, often due to reassortment between two viruses.

Front: Name one antiviral and its target.

Back: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) targets viral release by inhibiting neuraminidase.

Front: Why are viruses not considered living organisms?

Back: They cannot reproduce or carry out metabolism without a host.

Front: Example of a DNA virus.

Back: Herpesviridae; double-stranded DNA; icosahedral capsid; enveloped.

Front: Example of an RNA virus.

Back: Retroviridae (HIV); single-stranded RNA; reverse transcriptase; enveloped.

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### Eukaryotic Microbes (Chapter 12)

Front: What are protozoa?

Back: Single-celled eukaryotic microbes that live in moist environments and reproduce asexually or sexually.

Front: What are fungi?

Back: Eukaryotic microbes that can be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular (molds). They reproduce via spores and decompose organic matter.

Front: What are helminths?

Back: Multicellular parasitic worms (e.g., roundworms, tapeworms) that live in hosts during part of their lifecycle.

Front: Define definitive host.

Back: The host where a parasite reaches maturity and reproduces sexually.

Front: Define intermediate host.

Back: The host where a parasite undergoes larval development or asexual reproduction.

Front: Define trophozoite.

Back: The active, feeding stage of a protozoan.

Front: Define cyst.

Back: The dormant, protective stage of a protozoan.

Front: Define yeast.

Back: Unicellular fungi that reproduce by budding.

Front: Define hyphae.

Back: Long, thread-like structures that make up the body of multicellular fungi.

Front: Define mycelium.

Back: A network of hyphae that forms the body of a fungus.

Front: Define mushroom.

Back: The reproductive structure of some fungi, producing spores.

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### Immune System (Chapters 14 & 15)

Front: What are the three lines of defense?

Back:

1. Physical barriers (skin, mucous).

2. Innate immunity (phagocytes, inflammation).

3. Adaptive immunity (B/T cells).

Front: What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

Back: Innate: Non-specific, fast. Adaptive: Specific, slower, has memory.

Front: Define macrophages.

Back: Phagocytes that engulf and digest pathogens and present antigens to T cells.

Front: Define neutrophils.

Back: Short-lived phagocytes that are the first responders to infection.

Front: What is antigen presentation?

Back: The process by which macrophages or dendritic cells present antigens to T cells to activate them.

Front: What is the structure of an antibody?

Back: Y-shaped protein with variable regions for antigen binding and constant regions for immune signaling.

Front: What are the functions of antibodies?

Back: Opsonization, neutralization, immobilization, and antibody-dependent cytotoxicity.

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### Vaccines (Chapter 17)

Front: How do vaccines work?

Back: They stimulate the immune system to produce memory cells without causing disease.

Front: What are the types of vaccines?

Back: Live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, and nucleic-acid based.

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