MICROBIOLOGY

• Why is it important to understand diverse pathogens?

  They contribute to the global burden of disease
• What will students gain an overview of in this course?

  Main features of each class of microorganism
• What is one key factor in identifying microorganism groups?

  Main features of each class
• What should students describe regarding microorganisms?

  Key species associated with human disease
• What is the title of the book by Chauhan and Varma?

  Microbes: Health and Environment
• What is one general textbook mentioned for virology?

  Field’s Virology
• What is the significance of classifying microorganisms?

  It helps in identifying disease-causing agents
• Why is it important to feedback findings to the group?

  To enhance collective understanding of microorganisms
• What must the human body do to prevent disease?

  Be adaptable
• How many microorganisms is the human body exposed to daily?

  Thousands
• What is the focus of this lecture?

  Bacteria and their ability to cause disease
• What biological characteristics are important for identifying microorganisms?

  • Physiology
  • Genetic makeup
• How does environmental challenges affect bacterial metabolism?

  It influences the host-pathogen interaction
• What is the hierarchy of genetic makeup in organisms?

  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species

  
• What is the scientific name format called?

  Binomial nomenclature
• How is the genus written in scientific names?

  Begins with a capital letter
• How is the species written in scientific names?

  Begins with a lowercase letter
• What are the three domains defined by comparative rRNA sequencing?

  Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
• How are Archaea related to Eukarya compared to Bacteria?

  Archaea are more closely related to Eukarya
• What are the major cell morphologies of bacteria?

  • Coccus: spherical
  • Bacillus: rod-shaped
  • Spirillum: spiral

  
• What is the primary component of the bacterial cell wall?

  Peptidoglycan

  
• What is the size range for prokaryotes?

  0.2 µm to >700 µm
• What is the size of most cultured rod-shaped bacteria?

  0.5 to 4.0 µm wide
• What is an example of a very large prokaryote?

  Thiomargarita namibiensis
• What are the characteristics of bacteria?

  • Prokaryotic and unicellular
  • Have cell walls
  • Circular DNA called plasmids
  • Can be anaerobes or aerobes
  • Heterotrophs or autotrophs

  
• What caused the Bubonic Plague?

  Yersinia pestis
• What was the impact of the Bubonic Plague in Europe?

  Nearly 1/2 of Europe perished
• What are the major cell shapes in bacteria?

  • Coccus: spherical
  • Bacillus: rod-shaped
  • Spirillum: spiral

  
• What is the function of the peptidoglycan layer in bacteria?

  Provides strength to the cell wall
• What is the difference between Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell walls?

  Gram-positive has more peptidoglycan

  
• What is the first step in Gram staining?

  Crystal violet

  
• What role does iodine play in Gram staining?

  Acts as a mordant
• What does ethyl-alcohol do in the Gram staining process?

  Decolorizes Gram-negative cells

  
• What is taxonomy?

  • Science of classification
  • Arranging organisms into groups

  
• What is the Latin origin of the word classification?

  Classis
• What does the Greek word "taxis" mean in taxonomy?

  Arrangement or order
• What are the main external structures of bacteria?

  Flagella, pili, capsules, slime layers, spores
• What is the function of flagella in bacteria?

  Allows the cells to swim using chemotaxis
• What are pili in bacteria?

  Hairlike structures important for binding
• What is the function of capsules in bacteria?

  Important for survival and adherence to hosts