Week 1: Introduction to Microbiology

Fungi

- A group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms - Very simple, plant-like structures that lack chlorophyll, and thus cannot carry on photosynthesis to produce their own food - Saprophytes - Examples: yeast, mold

Chlamydia

- Large group of microorganisms - Divide by binary fission - Obligate intracellular parasites

Prion

- Microscopic protein particles similar to viruses, but lacking nucleic acid -Able to transmit disease processes from one cell to another and/or from one animal to another -Still uncertainties as to its origin and pathogenicity -Considered slow-acting viruses, as they have a long growth period before symptoms appear -Thought to be responsible for fatal brain diseases like Mad Cow disease or, in humans, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease

Rickettsia

- Similar to bacteria - Divide by binary fission - Obligate intracellular parasites - Most often transmitted to man by insects, their natural and primary hosts

Virus

- Smallest infectious agents - Obligate intracellular organisms

Protozoa

- Unicellular animal organisms - One celled Eukaryotes - Several protozoa are pathogens and cause infections such as Malaria, Giardiasis, Amebic Dysentery and Toxoplasmosis

Mycoplasma

-A Genus of bacteria -Found in humans -Have no cell wall -Smaller than ordinary bacteria, about the size of large viruses -Do not respond to penicillin -Cause primary atypical pneumonia

Bacterium (singular)/ Bacteria (plural)

-Minute, unicellular organisms that do not usually contain chlorophyll and may be able to move about independently in the environment -Prokaryotic -May exist as free living organisms OR as parasites -Multiply by binary fission or simple transverse division, an asexual process -Ubiquitous, meaning they are everywhere. Found within and on our bodies; in the food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe, and environment around us. There are 200 million in a pinch of dirt! 2 types - good and bad. There are thousands of species of bacteria, but only about 100 are disease-causing. Pathogenic & non-pathogenic.

nanometer

10-10 of a meter.

micrometer

10-6 of a meter.

False

All bacteria contain an organized nucleus. (T/F)

Prokaryotic

Bacteria are considered to be:

pathogenic

Bacteria that cause disease

non-pathogenic

Bacteria that do not cause disease

TRUE

Each organism is given a two-part name, similar to our surname (family name) and each person's own name. (t/f)

Genus (singular) Genera (plural)

First word of the name Capitalized, italicized or underlined

genus

In the name Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the first name is the:

unicellular

Living organisms that are composed of a single cell are said to be:

True

Microbiologists also use common names (T/F)

micrometers or nanometers

Microorganisms are measured in units known as __________________ or ________________

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease are called:

True

Molds and yeasts are forms of eukaryotes. (T/F)

Prokaryotic

Most organisms we study will be ___________

Example of two-part name

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Genus = Mycobacterium, species = tuberculosis)

normal flora

Organisms that help keep us healthy. They live within our body and we need them to live happily, but most importantly, healthy. Humans need them to live, for they help us digest food and make possible the normal development of our immune system, which thereby protects us from infection.

Mycoplasma

Penicillin is ineffective against these organisms. they are smaller than ordinary bacteria and about the size of large viruses.

False

Protozoa are morphologically unicellular organisms and are considered the lowest form of plant (T/F)

species

Second word of the name Not capitalicized, italicized or underlined

Biology

The science of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin,evolution, and distribution is called:

Microbiology

The science of unicellular organisms that can only be seen with the aid of a microscope is called:

Mycology

The study of fungi is called:

Bacteriology

The study of minute unicellular organisms that resemble plants but contain no chlorophyll is called:

Parasitology

The study of organisms that are dependent upon living things for their sustenance is called:

Rickettsia

These organisms are transmitted to man by insects who are the natural and primary host.

True

Thousands of Bacteria, which are not the smallest of microbes, can occupy the head of a single pin. (T/F)

Prion

Which term best represents microscopic protein particles that are similar to a virus and called slow acting?

Chlamydia

Which term best represents obligate intracellular parasites that divide by binary fission?

Fungi

Which term best represents plant-like structures that lack chlorophyll and cannot carry on photosynthesis or produce their own food?

Virus

Which term best represents the smallest infectious agent. These are obligate intracellular organisms that reproduce by replication in the host?

Fungi

Yeasts and molds are examples of these organisms:

Microbiology

a branch of Biology that deals with microbes

PROKARYOTIC

bacteria

Microbe

can also be called a microorganism.

Microorganisms

exist in almost every environment on earth and maybe beyond this planet. They were most likely the first forms of life and will probably be the last.

EUKARYOTIC

expected number of chromosomes, humans (23 pairs)

EUKARYOTIC

fungi, plants, animals

Microbes

include viruses, bacteria, parasites, and more.

Kingdom Protozoa

includes all microorganisms, usually unicellular, but some multicellular (those that do not form cells into tissues for any specific function).

bacteria

minute unicellular organisms that resemble plants, but do not contain chlorophyll.

rickettsia

obligate intracellular organisms

Saprophytes

obtain nourishment from dead, decaying organic material

animal & plant

other 2 kingdoms

myco

prefix meaning fungi

PROKARYOTIC

primitive, not defined nucleus

PROKARYOTIC

single chromosome

Parasitology

studies organisms that are dependent on living things for their sustenance.

Pathogenicity

the ability of a microorganism to cause disease.

Biology

the science of life and of living organisms, including their: - Structure - Function - Growth - Origin - Evolution - Distribution It includes Botany and Zoology and all of their subdivisions.

viruses

the smallest known organisms (they are submicroscopic)

Bacteriology

the study of bacteria

Mycology

the study of fungi

Protozoology

the study of protozoa

Rickettsiology

the study of rickettsia

Virology

the study of viruses

Obligate intracellular parasites

they must live within and control the cell to exist

Obligate intracellular organisms

they reproduce only by replication in the host, cannot carry on independent metabolism

Microbes

unicellular (one-celled) organisms that can be seen only with the aid of a microscope. can also be called a microorganism.

fungi

unicellular and multicellular organisms

protozoa

unicellular animal organisms. These make bacteria look small.

EUKARYOTIC

well defined, true nucleus