Bacteriology Stack

1. Bacteriology Stack Slackers Facts by Mike Ori

2. Disclaimer The information represents my understanding only so errors and omissions are probably rampant. It has not been vetted or reviewed by faculty. The source is our class notes. The document can mostly be used forward and backward. I tried to mark questionable stuff with (?). If you want it to look pretty, steal some crayons and go to town. Finally… If you’re a gunner, buck up and do your own work.

3. A hydrophilic gel surrounding a bacterium in most species composed polysaccharides but that may be composed of amino acids in some species.

4. Capsule

5. Capsule function

6. Servers as an antiphagocytic factor often by the fixation of complement inhibitors such as factor H. May also serve to create a slime layer that adheres cells to surfaces.

7. Cell wall definition

8. A rigid layer external to the plasma membrane of most bacteria.

9. Cell wall functions

10. Prevent osmotic destruction of the cell. Regulate the environment adjacent to the plasma membrane. Determines the shape of the cell.

11. Gram positive wall structure

12. Linear glycan chains extending from the plasma membrane cross linked by peptides to form a rigid three dimensional scaffold like structure. Lipoteichoic acids anchor the glycans to the plasma membrane.

13. Gram negative cell wall structure

14. Lipid outer membrane containing that contains Lipopolysaccharideendotoxinand transport proteins surmounting a thin peptidoglycan structure all of which lie outside the plasma membrane. The peptidoglycan layer is less cross-linked and considerably thinner than that of gram negative cells.

15. Periplasmic gel

16. The peptidoglycan layer surrounding a gram negative cell in between the plasma membrane and the outer lipid layer

17. Lipopolysaccharide structure

19. Lipopolysaccharide function

20. A structural component of the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria that is extremely toxic to humans and other animals. It is a general injury factor for gram negative bacteria.

21. Flagella definition

22. A sweet chocolaty substance secreted by bacteria

23. Pili

24. Hairy-like tubular projections from the surface of bacterial cells that are composed of pilinand that play a role in attachment to surfaces, conjugation, and virulence.

25. Nucleoid

26. The area of a bacteria that contains the chromosomal DNA

27. Plasmid

28. A small covalently closed circle of double stranded DNA that is separate from the chromosome. These often convey resistance and virulence genes.

29. Spores

30. Non-reproducing survival forms of bacteria that are resistant pH extremes, heat, and uv radiation

31. Siderophores

32. An iron chelator secreted by bacteria used to obtain iron from the environment.

33. Fermentation

34. The transfer of electrons and protons via NAD+ to an organic acceptor. This results in the creation of lactic acid, ethanol, etc.

35. Respiration

36. Substrate oxidation coupled to electron transporters linked to an ultimate electron acceptor such as molecular oxygen.

37. Aerobes

38. Bacteria that require O2 in order to grow.

39. Anaerobes

40. Bacteria that are killed by O2 usually due to a lack of compounds that remove oxygen radicals from the cell.

41. Super oxide dismutase

42. Converts superoxide to H2O2

43. Catalase

44. Converts 2 H2O2 to 2H2O + O2

45. Facultative

46. Ability to grow aerobically using respiration or anaerobically using fermentation

47. Microaerophilic

48. Requires oxygen for growth but at lower than atmospheric levels

49. General secretory proteins

50. Secretory protein complexes that handle proteins destined for the membranes or periplasm