22 Questions
What is the primary stain used in acid-fast staining for bacteria?
Red
Which method of acid-fast staining uses heat to drive the stain to the cell wall?
Ziehl-Neelsen method
What is the composition of endospores that confers resistance to heat, drying, and chemical agents?
Dipicolinic acid
What is the process of spore production called?
Sporulation
Which bacterial genera are capable of forming thick-walled spores for survival when nutrient supply is low?
Bacillus and Clostridium
What are fimbriae in bacteria mainly used for?
Attachment
What is bacterial taxonomy?
Arrangement or catalogue of related organisms into logical groups
Why is bacterial taxonomy important?
Establish criteria in the identification; Arrange related organisms into groups; Provide information on how they evolve; Provide orderly basis for identification and; Placing related organisms into groups or various categories
List the hierarchical categories in bacterial taxonomy.
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
What are the rules of nomenclature for naming microorganisms?
There is only one correct name for an organism; Names that cause error and confusion shall be rejected; All names shall be Latinized; The first letter of the genus is capitalized; The species is written in lowercase letters; Scientific names are underlined or italicized when printed or written.
What is the glycocalyx of bacteria?
Sugar coat of the bacteria; Gel-like, sticky layer of molecules external to the cell wall.
What is the main purpose of bacterial cytology?
To identify and enumerate the bacterial cytology
What is the function of the capsule in bacteria?
Protects the cell, biofilms, desiccation, protects the cells underneath, toxic materials, facilitate communication among microorganisms found within, phagocytosis, survival of the cells by attaching to various surfaces in its natural environment
Describe the structure of flagella.
Thread-like or whip-like filamentous appendage
What is the function of fimbriae in bacteria?
Adhere some bacterial cells to one another and to environmental surfaces, functions in biofilm formation
How does cell wall synthesis contribute to bacterial function?
Provides rigidity and strength to the exterior of the cell, maintains intracellular water pressure, maintains association of the wall with cell membrane, point of anchorage of the flagella, site of antibiotic action
Differentiate between gram positive and gram negative bacteria in terms of their cell wall composition.
Gram positive bacteria have several layers of peptidoglycan and contain teichoic acid, while gram negative bacteria have one or two layers of peptidoglycan and a lipopolysaccharide component.
What is the significance of Lipid A in gram negative bacteria?
Lipid A is the 'endotoxin' component of the gram negative wall and can cause inflammatory reactions and fever shock.
How are acid-fast stains used in microbiology?
To stain bacteria with high lipid and wax content in their cell walls that do not stain well with traditional bacterial stains.
What is the role of chemotaxis in bacterial movement?
Movement towards a source of nutrients (chemotaxis), light (phototaxis), or oxygen (aerotaxis).
How do endospores contribute to bacterial survival?
Endospores allow bacteria to survive harsh conditions and facilitate their germination when conditions are favorable.
Explain the role of the glycocalyx in bacterial motility.
Glycocalyx are exterior protein filaments that cause bacteria to be motile.
Learn the fundamentals of bacterial taxonomy, physiology, and cytology. Explore the different morphology of bacteria and understand the importance of taxonomy in identifying and classifying organisms.
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