122 Questions
What is the most significant characteristic of prokaryotic cells?
Ability to survive for millions of years
Why have prokaryotes been so successful on Earth?
They can thrive in pretty much every type of environment
What is the main focus of the study 'Mastering Microbiology'?
Bacterial diseases prevention and treatment
Why is understanding prokaryotic cells important?
To prevent and treat bacterial diseases
What has allowed prokaryotic cells to thrive in various environments?
Remarkable cell structures called endospores
What did researchers grow in salt crystals for 250 million years?
Bacteria that had been trapped for billions of years
What are the two separate domains that prokaryotic cells are classified into?
Archaea and Bacteria
Which domain of life do eukaryotic cells make up?
Eukarya
Which of the following is a characteristic of prokaryotic cells?
Unicellular lacking a membrane-bound nucleus
What feature do prokaryotic cells lack compared to eukaryotic cells?
Membrane-bound organelles
Which organism does the book primarily focus on when discussing prokaryotes?
Bacteria
Which domain is more closely related to Eukarya than Bacteria based on genetic studies?
Archaea
What is a key characteristic of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori?
Pleomorphic, able to take on different forms
What is the range in size for prokaryotes, in micrometers?
$0.5$ to $2.0$ μm
What enables larger bacteria like Thiomargarita namibiensis to thrive despite less efficient diffusion for nutrient uptake?
Larger surface area-to-volume ratio
Why is it important to understand prokaryotic shapes and arrangements from a clinical perspective?
It's a criterion for clinical microbiologists to identify certain pathogens
Which organism causes gastric and duodenal ulcers and is able to take on different forms?
Helicobacter pylori
What is the main platform for interacting with the environment in prokaryotic cells?
Plasma membrane
Which cellular structure of prokaryotic cells lies just outside of the plasma membrane?
Glycocalyx
What is the purpose of the septum formation during binary fission in prokaryotic cells?
To separate daughter cells
What is the function of periplasmic flagella in prokaryotic cells?
Cell motility
What is the main component of the plasma membrane in prokaryotic cells?
Lipids
Which factor greatly affects the frequency of binary fission in prokaryotic cells?
Nutrient availability
What is the spherical morphology exhibited by E. coli during a stage of infection known as?
Cocci
What is the purpose of glycocalyx structures in prokaryotic cells?
Protection and adhesion
What is the primary site for metabolic reactions and ATP production in prokaryotic cells?
Plasma membrane
What is the main function of fimbriae in prokaryotic cells?
Attachment to surfaces
What role do periplasmic flagella play in prokaryotic cells?
Enabling cell motility
What differentiates Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell walls in prokaryotic cells?
The thickness of peptidoglycan layer
What is the main difference between the cell wall of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria?
Gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane, while Gram-positive bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer in their cell walls.
Which component is enriched in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria?
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
What is the role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria?
It contains a lipid portion that is poisonous to animals.
What makes Gram-positive bacteria appear purple in the Gram staining procedure?
The thick peptidoglycan layer
According to the text, what is the main reason for the hardiness of Gram-negative bacteria?
The presence of a thick outer membrane
What is the role of porins in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria?
Allowing substances such as amino acids and nutrients to pass through
What are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) primarily used for?
Destroying competing microbes in the environment
What characteristic makes human-derived AMP drugs selective in attacking bacterial cells without damaging our own cells?
Their selective toxicity towards bacterial cells
Why is it rare for bacteria to develop resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)?
They have been used across life forms since the dawn of time.
What is the potential advantage of developing man-made AMPs based on natural AMPs?
Improving the spectrum of activity against pathogens
What do researchers hope continued work in the area of man-made AMPs will achieve?
Lessen side effects, expand activity against pathogens, and prolong drug effectiveness
What is the main function of the plasma membrane in a cell?
To separate the cell from its surroundings and control the passage of substances
How do warmer temperatures affect membrane fluidity?
Increase membrane rigidity
What is the primary difference between bacterial and archaeal plasma membranes?
Bacterial membranes are strictly bilayers, while archaeal membranes can be monolayers or bilayers
What is the core component of bacterial cell walls?
Peptidoglycan
What is the clinical utility of knowing a bacterium’s Gram and acid-fast properties?
To guide antibiotic treatment
In which type of environment do archaea with unique membrane adaptations thrive?
High-temperature environments
What do drugs from the penicillin family target in bacteria?
Peptidoglycan construction
What is the term used for storage bodies within a cell that house nutrients and reduce the active intracellular volume?
Intracellular inclusions
What is the term used for cells with a rod or cylindrical shape?
Bacilli
What is the term used for spherical cells?
Cocci
Which bacterium is the causative agent of stomach ulcers?
Helicobacter pylori
What type of motion do spirochetes exhibit due to a specialized periplasmic flagellum?
Corkscrew-rotary motion
What process do most prokaryotic cells primarily use for reproduction?
Binary fission
Which genus includes a variety of rod-shaped bacteria?
Bacillus
"Streptococci" refers to a grouping of cells in which shape?
"Longer chains"
"Diplobacilli" refers to a grouping of cells in which shape?
"Pairs of cells"
"Staph arrangement" refers to a grouping of cells produced by which type of bacteria?
"Cocci"
What has allowed prokaryotic cells to thrive in various environments?
Their capacity to form endospores for survival in harsh conditions
Why is it important to understand prokaryotic shapes and arrangements from a clinical perspective?
To recognize pathogenic characteristics and facilitate treatment
What are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) primarily used for?
To defend against bacterial infections
Which bacterium is the causative agent of stomach ulcers?
Helicobacter pylori
What do drugs from the penicillin family target in bacteria?
Bacterial cell wall synthesis
What did researchers grow in salt crystals for 250 million years?
Bacteria that had been trapped in amber for billions of years
What morphology would you expect in E. coli that was freshly grown in the lab?
Motile rods
What is the main function of the plasma membrane in a prokaryotic cell?
Acting as a selective barrier
What role do periplasmic flagella play in prokaryotic cells?
Motility and chemotaxis
What differentiates Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell walls in prokaryotic cells?
Thickness of peptidoglycan layer
Why does E. coli assume a filamentous form in later stages of infection?
To avoid the host immune response
What enables prokaryotic cells to thrive in various environments?
Ability to alter lipid profiles
Which component is enriched in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria?
Lipopolysaccharides
What term is used for cells with a rod or cylindrical shape?
'Bacilli'
'Streptococci' refers to a grouping of cells produced by which type of bacteria?
'Chains'
'Diplobacilli' refers to a grouping of cells in which shape?
'Pairs'
What is the main platform for interacting with the environment in prokaryotic cells?
Plasma membrane
Which domain is more closely related to Eukarya than Bacteria based on genetic studies?
Archaea
What are the two separate domains that prokaryotic cells are classified into?
Bacteria and Archaea
What is the term for the process of bacterial cell division?
Binary fission
Which type of cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles?
Prokaryotic cells
What is the term used to describe the property of taking on different forms, as seen in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori?
Pleomorphism
Which organism causes gastric and duodenal ulcers and is able to take on different forms?
Helicobacter pylori
What is the range in size for prokaryotes, in micrometers?
$0.5 - 2.0 \mu m$
What is the most efficient size range for nutrient diffusion in prokaryotic cells?
$0.2 - 1.0 \mu m$
Which domain is more closely related to Eukarya than Bacteria based on genetic studies?
Archaea
What is the primary site for metabolic reactions and ATP production in prokaryotic cells?
$\text{Cytoplasm}$
'Thiomargarita namibiensis' grows in ocean sediments and belongs to which category of prokaryotes based on size?
$\text{Large prokaryotes}$
'Pleomorphic' refers to the ability of a bacterium to:
$\text{Take on different forms}$
What contributes important structural and functional properties to the plasma membrane?
Glycoproteins and lipid groups
What is the impact of warmer temperatures on membrane fluidity?
Warmer temperatures increase membrane fluidity
What chemical linkages are typically present in bacterial plasma membranes?
Ester bonds
What type of lipids are used in the plasma membranes of archaea?
Long-branched lipids
Which molecule is a core component of bacterial cell walls?
Peptidoglycan
What is the primary purpose of the Gram staining technique?
To classify cells based on their cell wall structure
What is the function of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria?
Protection from environmental toxins
What provides a rigid structure to prokaryotic cells and serves as an extra layer of protection?
Cell wall
What unique feature do certain archaea use to thrive in extreme heat?
Lipid monolayers in membranes
What is the main component of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells but is rarely seen in prokaryotic cells?
Cholesterol
What do drugs from the penicillin family primarily target in bacteria?
Peptidoglycan in the cell wall
What contributes to maintaining a certain level of membrane fluidity in response to environmental stimuli and cellular needs?
Unsaturated fats in the fatty acid portion of phospholipids
What is the primary function of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria?
To act as a poisonous substance to animals
What is the significance of the periplasmic space in Gram-positive bacteria, as proposed by some researchers?
It serves as a site for cell wall synthesis
Why are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) particularly promising drugs, according to the text?
They are highly specific to targeting bacterial cells
What contributes to the hardiness of Gram-negative bacteria, making them harder to kill with chemical agents than Gram-positive species?
The presence of porins in the outer membrane
What is the main reason for the rarity of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)?
Bacteria are less likely to develop resistance due to the ancient exposure to AMPs
What allows substances to cross the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that cannot cross the plasma membrane?
Porins
What makes AMP drugs selectively attack bacterial cells without damaging our own cells?
Their selective diffusion through lipid membranes
What is the role of the thick peptidoglycan layer in Gram-positive cell walls?
To act as a protective barrier against antimicrobial peptides
What contributes to the hardiness of Gram-negative bacteria, making them harder to kill with chemical agents than Gram-positive species?
The presence of an outer membrane and porins
What is the primary function of the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria?
To act as a selective barrier against certain agents
What is the main characteristic that makes synthetic AMPs particularly promising drugs?
Their selective toxicity against bacterial cells
What makes it likely that a culture of Gram-positive cells will contain some cells that appear Gram-negative?
Presence of damaged cell walls within a culture
What is the term for the storage bodies within a cell that house nutrients and reduce the active intracellular volume?
Intracellular inclusions
Which type of motion do spirochetes exhibit due to a specialized periplasmic flagellum?
Corkscrew-rotary motion
What enables larger bacteria like Thiomargarita namibiensis to thrive despite less efficient diffusion for nutrient uptake?
High surface area-to-volume ratio
What is the main platform for interacting with the environment in prokaryotic cells?
Plasma membrane
What do drugs from the penicillin family target in bacteria?
Cell wall synthesis
What role do periplasmic flagella play in prokaryotic cells?
Motility
'Diplobacilli' refers to a grouping of cells in which shape?
Rod-shaped
'Staph arrangement' refers to a grouping of cells produced by which type of bacteria?
'Cluster arrangement'
'Streptococci' refers to a grouping of cells produced by which type of bacteria?
'Chain arrangement'
'Streptococci' refers to a grouping of cells in which shape?
'Chain arrangement'
What is the term for cells with a rod or cylindrical shape?
'Bacilli'
What is the term used for spherical cells?
'Coccus'
Test your knowledge on the progression of E. coli infection with this quiz. Understand the different stages and forms of E. coli during infection and how it perpetuates infections.
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