quiz 2 microbiology

prokaryotes are

ubiquitous. they can live in hot springs, antarctic ice, under extreme pressure, deep sea, and everywhere on the human body

prokaryotes are extremely

adaptable and play critical roles in the maintenance of ecosystems

symbiosis

defined as any interaction between different species

mutualism

two species mutually benefit from interaction

amensalism

one party is harmed and the other is unaffected

commensalism

one party is unaffected, the other is benefited

neutralism

both parties are unaffected

parasitism

one party benefits, the other is harmed

microbiome

defined as all microorganisms (prokaryotic and eukaryotic) associated with an organism or environment

entamoeba histolytica

example of amoebozoa, causes ameobic dysentery

dinoflagellates

example of algae, most of the time completely harmless marine organisms

chromalveolata

supergroup of eukaryotic taxonomy, contains both algae and protozoa

aspergillus spp.

ubiquitous, very rare, can cause a variety of issues from allergies to infection

malaria

protozoa, highly infectious eukaryote that causes significant morbidity and mortality, infects human red blood cells, best prevention is mosquito nets, can cause multiple organ failures, blood abnormalities, and eventually death

why are eukaryotes so much harder to kill than prokaryotes?

antibiotics tend to focus on prokaryotic cell walls and ribosomes

algal blooms

often called red tides, algae in an ecosystem start rapidly dividing, which causes a huge production of algae which can make the tide look red.

amoebozoa

supergroup of eukaryotic taxonomy, protozoans that use ‘amoeboid’ movement, have pseudopodia: false- feet

‘amoeboid’ movement

blob pushes part of blob one side, then pulls itself to the blob

ascaris lumbercoides

parasite that lives in your intestines, consumes your nutrients, can cause intestinal blockage, largest nematode in humans, up to 1 meter long

enterobius vermicularis

causes pinworms (most common nematode in the US), sleeplessness, and itching around the anus at night

Excavata

supergroup of eukaryotic taxonomy, mostly includes primitive eukaryotes with limited metabolic activity

lichens

combination of 2 organisms, live in relatively extreme environments, green algae or cyanobacterium and a fungus, can act as a nitrogen source, early colonizer of soil- less environments, some people think mutualism but some others think controlled parasitism

Naegleria fowleri

example of amoebozoa, brain- eating amoeba, natural environment is water sources, comes in through the nose, almost always deadly

penicillium spp.

produces the antibiotic penicillin, ubiquitous, example of a mold, can cause allergies and infection

plasmodium spp.

example of chromalveolata, causes malaria

Phylum Platyhelminthes

(flatworms) includes flukes and tapeworms, all have an oral sucker that they use to attach to tissues

flukes

parasitic flatworm inside the phylum platyhelminthes, the primary host is a vertebrate, where the flukes reproduce sexually, intermediate host is typically a snail, where asexual reproduction occurs.

taenia spp.

(tapeworm) ingested through undercooked meat- pork, found in the intestines of humans, can cause malnutrition, don’t tend to cause organ failure, may need surgery to remove tapeworms

toxoplasma gondii

example of chromalveolata, protozoan passed by cat feces, can cross placenta and infect the growing fetus, causes toxoplasmosis

Trichomonas vaginalis

STI, in vaginal tract, spread through sexual activity, only females get it, caused by trichomonas

Trypanozoma brucei

causes African sleeping sickness, sleeping for long periods of time, tsetse (drink human blood) are the vectors, causes lack of coordination

algae

in supergroup chromalveolata, protist that can be uni or multicellular, many are important environmentally and ecologically, often photosynthetic, provides nutrients to many animals, most don’t cause sickness, don’t infect humans or animals. algae can take oxygen out of the ocean water that other animals need. dinoflagellates or other algaes naturally produce toxins that can be harmful, but they usually aren’t if there is a normal amount of algae present

algae doesn’t

cause any disease in plants, animals, or humans

algae uses

resources (oxygen) that other animals need, takes it out of ocean water, naturally produce neuro- toxins (can affect animals and can be passed to humans who eat animals), but they don’t exist in high enough levels to cause harm if there is a normal amount of algae

parasitic helminths

supergroup opisthokonata, are animals, are multicellular and contain organ systems, most have complex lifecycles that involve several different stages and hosts, reproduce sexually and can be seen with the naked eye

fungi

supergroup opisthokonata, cell walls usually made of chitin, can be multicellular (molds) or unicellular (yeasts)

molds

multicellular fungi, usually produce hyphae and spores for reproduction and dispersal, preferred growing temp is room temp (about 25 degrees C)

histoplasma capsulatum

example of dimorphic fungi, mold at room temp, human inhales it and it turns into a yeast that can multiply in the lungs, causing the chronic lung disease histoplasmosis, grows in soil exposed to bird or bat feces

lichens symbiotic relationship

green algae (produce organic food sources from light) and fungus (has to have a food source, provides house for green algae and green algae produces food)

dimorphic fungi

can be both multi and unicellular depending on temp. at room temp, they are molds, turn to yeasts when they hit human body temperature

Schistosoma spp.

causes schistosomiasis, example of a phylum platyhelminths

schistosomiasis

fluke infection, has several hosts- 2 are humans, second is snails. can burrow right through the skin from contaminated fresh water. can migrate to other organs and cause malnutrition, anemia, and fluid buildup. if untreated, can cause organ failure and death

several very serious infections are caused by

eukaryotes

giardia lamblia

example of excavata, found in feces, mostly spread through contaminated fresh water sources, cause traveler’s diarrhea, not very dangerous, self- limiting

phylum nematoda

roundworms- parasitic worms, snakelike shape, can infect humans and other animals

tapeworms

parasitic flatworms that live in the intestines of their hosts that can be very long

apergillus sp.

ubiquitous, can cause a variety of issues from allergies to infection, very rare, usually only exists in people immunocompromised

yeasts

unicellular, reproduce by budding, 98 degrees F, grow best in warmer temperatures

candida albicans

common cause of vaginal yeast infections and thrush, part of human microbiome, likes warm and wet environments, can be caused by antibiotic use

saccharomyces sp.

used to make bread and beer, undergoes fermentation (converts sugar to carbon dioxide), produces air bubbles

why can candida albicans be caused by antibiotic use?

antibiotics kill all the bad and the good bacteria, which gives yeasts room to grow and nutrients to eat

dimorphic fungi

about 6 types, can be both multi and unicellular depending on the temperature. at room temp, they are molds. at human body temp, it turns to yeasts

ameobic dysentery

from of diarrhea where there is blood and mucus in the stool, caused by water contaminated by feces