chapter 10-11

• Ecology is the systematic study of the interrelationships that exist between organisms and their environment.
• Microbial Ecology is the study of the numerous interrelationships between microbes and the world around them.
• Indigenous microflora are microorganisms are present both on and in our bodies.
• Symbiosis defined as two dissimilar organisms living together in a close association
• Symbionts are the organisms in the relationship.
• Neutralism refers to a symbiotic relationship in which neither symbiont is affected by the relationship.
• Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to one symbiont and of no consequence to the other.
• Commensals is what you call the symbionts in a commensalistic relationship.
• Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to both symbionts.
• Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship that is beneficial to one symbiont (the parasite) and detrimental to the other symbiont (the host).
• Host is a living organism that harbors another living organism.
• Parasite may or may not cause disease in the host.
• Change in condition can cause one type of symbiotic relationship to shift to another type.
• Lichen is an example of mutualistic relationship.
• Demodex Mites in Human hair follicles an example of commensalistic relationship.
• Cause of African Sleeping Sickness an example of parasitisic relationship.
• Escherichia coli is an intestinal bacterium that has a mutualistic relationship with humans.
• Normal flora is the other term for Indigenous Microflora.
• Sterile is what you call the parts of the body like tissue like blood, lymph, spinal fluid, internal tissues and organs that are normally free of microorganisms.
• Blood, Lymph and Spinal Fluid are parts of the body that are sterile.
• There are 500-1000 species of indigenous microflora
• Staphylococcus spp. is the most common microflora on the skin.
• Moisture, pH, Temperature, Salinity, Chemical Waste & other Microbes are the 5 factors that affects the number and variety of microorganisms
• Middle and Inner ear are parts of the ear are usually sterile
• Outer ear and Auditory canal are parts of the ear contains the same microorganisms as on the skin?
• Carriers harbor virulent pathogens in their nasal passages or throats, but do not have the diseases usually caused by these pathogens.
• Lower Respiratory Tract is the division of the respiratory tract is usually FREE of microbes
• Dental Carries, Gingivitis, Periodontitis are the 3 diseases are the results of careless dental hygiene
• The most common organisms within the indigenous microflora of the mouth are various species of what alpha-hemolytic streptococci.
• Colon contains the largest number and variety of microorganisms of any colonized area of the body.
• 500-600 different species of microbes are there in colon
• colon is anaerobic
• the 3 atmospheric classifications of bacteria present in the colon (large intestine) are Obligate, Aerotolerant and Facultative Anaerobes
• Genitourinary Tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and parts of the female/male reproductive systems.
• Kidneys, Ureters and Urinary Bladder are parts of the Genitourinary Tract are usually sterile
• Distal Urethra and its External Opening are parts of the Genitourinary Tract harbors many microbes including bacteria, yeasts and viruses
• Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasmas are the microbes that are most frequent causes of urethral infections.
• the male and female reproductive systems are sterile
• Vagina is part of the female reproductive system that is NOT sterile.
• Vitamin K and B12 are the beneficial vitamins we get from indigenous microflora