test 1 review

What is pneumonic plague and how is it transmitted?

'suppurating pneumonia', contagious bacterial respitory disease transmitted by human contact: inhalation of fine infective droplets and can be transmitted from human to human without involvement of fleas or animals.

Many societal changes in education, faith in the clergy, economics and medicine occurred following the "Great Pestilence." What were they?

*Lost faith in clergy *Education growth-local universities established in 'common language' *feudal system declined-smaller labor force-people could 'move up' in status and earn wages *diversified economy *increase in financial institutions *improved shipping

Be able to name some good bacteria and some that are pathogenic.

...Good bacteria: Lactic acid (yogurt, cheese); wastewater

All bacteria are prokaryotic. Be able to describe a simple prokaryotic cell and give the functions of the cell parts listed. (flagellum, cell walls, capsule, pilus, ribosomes plasma membrane)

1. Flagellum: allow movement 2. cell walls: resist antibodies 3. capsule: protection 4. pilus: hold bacteria together for reproduction/exchange DNA 5. ribosomes: synthesizes proteins 6. plasma membrane: controls entry/exit

Who was Giovanni Boccacio?

An Italian writer, lived through the 1348 Great Pestilence, wrote "Decameron," a graphic fictional book about 10 people who fled Plague.

What is the difference between and autotroph and a heterotroph? Most bacteria are heterotrophs.

Autotrophs can produce their own food, heterotrophs cannot http://www.diffen.com/difference/Autotroph_vs_Heterotroph Heterotroph: can't make own food, ex: herbivores, omnivores, carnivores a. decomposers (feed on/recycle organic material) b.Pathogens - parasitic, disease-causing bacteria c. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium) Found in nodules of soybeans, peanuts, alfalfa, and clover Convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia, called nitrogen fixation. Used in crop rotation Autotroph: use the sun's energy to make food, ex: are plants, algae, some bacteria

Bacteria are grouped into 2 kingdoms. What are those kingdoms? How do they differ?

Bacteria and Archaebacteria Bacteria live around us, protect Arcaebacteria-old bacteria live in extreme conditions

The Justinian plague and subsequent outbreaks over two more centuries marked the end of the Classical World-the Greek and Roman civilization and ushered in what?

Dark Ages

Why do plague-infected fleas go on biting sprees?

During plague epizootics, many rodents die, causing hungry fleas to seek other sources of blood.

What is the difference between bacteria that are psychrophiles, mesophiles, and thermophiles?

Growth rate conditions psychrophiles grow in very cold temps mesophiles-moderate temps (37) thermophiles (70)

Who were Girolamo Fracastoro, Alexander Yersin, Shibasaburo Kitasoto, Paul-Louis Simond? a. How did Yersin figure out that a specific bacteria (now known as Yersinia pestis) caused the plague? b. What was the point of Simond's jar experiment?

Historical authors/scientists who made notable research about the plague. A. He injected a guinea pig with bacteria from a dead soldier's bubo. Guinea pig died also. Sent fluid samples to Paris, but was ignored. He realized the bacteria was causing the plague. B. to demonstrate the transmission of bubonic plague from rats to humans are the fleas Xenopsylla cheopis that dwell on infected rats. Simond placed 2 rats in jar (one infected, one healthy) seperated by a screen to allow the fleas to jump through. The healthy rat became infected and also died. He placed a second jar with a healthy rat and infected fleas, the rat died from the fleas infected with the plague.

What are marmots and how did they facilitate the spread of the plague?

Large squirrels who died from the plague. Traders sold their flea-infested furs throughout the Silk Trade Route, spreading the plague.

Most of the cells in the human body are prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

Most cells in the human body are eukaryotic

Quarantine of ships was one of the first ways that Italy tried to control spread of the plague. Did it work? Why or why not?

No, the rats were still able to escape into the town, spreading the plague.

How do bacteria that live on our bodies protect us?

Normal flora (Resident bacteria) is the first line of defense against bacterial infections...take up every spot on your body that a disease-causing bacterium could adhere to and consume every potential source of nutrition, making it difficult for a disease-causing bacterium to gain a foothold. Thus, maintaining a robust population of these benign bacteria is your first line of defense against infection by harmful bacteria. 1. compete for space/nutrients w/pathogens 2. inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth 3. bind to and eliminate pathogenic bacteria 4. alert immune system to the presence of pathogenic bacteria

Why will the plague bacteria never be eradicated? What does sylvatic mean? Enzootic?

Sadly unlike the eradication of plague bacteria will never be totally gone, since it's found in fleas, and of course the fleas are living upon millions of animals. Sylvatic is a scientific term referring to diseases or pathogens affecting only wild (sylvan means forest-dwelling) animals. Enzootic: Endemic in animals. An enzootic disease is constantly present in an animal population, but usually only affects a small number of animals at any one time.

Describe the symptoms of the bubonic form of the plague. How does this form differ from the septicemic and pneumonic forms?

The difference between the versions of plague is simply the location of the infection in the body; the bubonic plague is an infection of the lymphatic system, the pneumonic plague is an infection of the respiratory system, and the septicemic plague is an infection in the blood stream.

Should developed countries be concerned about plague even though those countries hardly have any cases? Why?

Yes...

Plague bacteria have 3 characteristic virulence factors that make them very pathogenic. What are they and give the function.

Yops, toxin, prevents clotting Yops prevent white blood cells from ridding the bacterium toxin kills other host cells prevents clotting-bacteria escapes from the bite site

What role did grass rats and gerbils have in the spread of the plague of Justinian? Who was the Emperor Justinian?

infected grass rats & gerbils migrated closer to cities, fleas jumped to black rats transmitting the plague Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the historical Roman Empire. A devastating outbreak of bubonic plague (see Plague of Justinian) in the early 540s marked the end of an age of splendour. The Empire entered a period of territorial decline not to be reversed until the 9th century.

What are some ways that antibiotics work?

prevent cell wall formation, break up cell membranes, disrupt chemical processes, interrupt protein production

What is peptidoglycan?

sugar linked with amino acid, created a cell wall for bacteria, the immune system is unable to recognize the bacteria.

What is a bubo?

swollen lymph node; continues to enlarge with plague bacteria, becomes full of puss.

Has the plague ever been used as a biological weapon? explain

yes, in 1346-Mongols used infected corpses as a weapon, throwing the bodies during a seige 1930-Japan dropped fleas on China