CH4A

• Babies typically don't develop normal microflora until birth because the womb is considered sterile.
• Microflora composition is influenced by our environments, which introduce different types of microbes.
• Resident microflora are typically found on our body, but can be opportunistic pathogens.
• Transient flora typically aren't on our body, but can either be neutral or pathogenic.
• A mutualistic symbiotic relationship means both populations benefit from one another.
• An amensalism symbiotic relationship means one population is unaffected while the other is harmed.
• A commensalism symbiotic relation means one population is unaffected while the other is benefitting.
• A neutralism symbiotic relationship means both populations are unaffected.
• A parasitism relationship means one population is harmed while the other is benefitting.
• Vaginal microbiota doesn't fully develop until puberty.
• The Lactobacillus species adhere to vaginal epithelial cells, keeping the vaginal pH low, and inhibiting pathogenic bacteria from invading.
• Endospore infections from Clostridium difficile can produce toxins that kill intestinal cells. This is done by creating a pseudomembranous colitis.
• To protect against C. diff, microflora take up space on epithelial cells, impairing their growth. Microflora will also influence the immune system to make antibodies and antimicrobial peptides.
• A fecal transplant helps introduce new bacteria from a stool donor, which helps restore the body's ecosystem. A new ecosystem will populate the colon, keeping the C. diff in check.
• Prokaryotes can live almost anywhere, making them ubiquitous.
• Prokaryotes are known to play a role in photosynthesis, fixing/metabolizing carbon, and decomposition.
• Prokaryotes play a role in bioremediation, where microbes are used to break down toxins.
• Prokaryotes play a role in biotechnology, where microbes are used to make medicine.
• Prokaryotes can also impact our health by either being microflora or pathogens.