Microbiology Exam Review Quiz

The three domains of life are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Pili, also known as fimbriae, are short, hair-like appendages found on the surface of bacteria. They help bacteria adhere to surfaces and other cells.

Flagella are long, whip-like structures used for bacterial movement. While present in bacteria, they are not exclusive to Gram-positive bacteria, meaning they can also be found in Gram-negative bacteria.

Prions are infectious agents that lack a nucleic acid genome (DNA or RNA). They are composed solely of misfolded proteins that can cause other proteins to misfold, leading to disease.

Archaea are prokaryotic organisms that have a cell wall but lack peptidoglycan, a unique component of bacterial cell walls. They can thrive in extreme environments like hot springs and salty lakes.

Antibodies are proteins produced by plasma cells, which are specialized white blood cells. Antibodies help the immune system identify and neutralize foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses.

Synergism occurs when two antibiotics work together to enhance their therapeutic effect, meaning the combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.

The log phase of bacterial growth is the ideal stage for calculating the doubling time, also known as generation time. This is the time it takes for a bacterial population to double in size.

There are four Biosafety Levels (BSLs) that classify laboratories based on the level of containment required for handling infectious agents. BSL-1 is for the lowest risk, while BSL-4 is for the highest risk.

Antony van Leeuwenhoek, a skilled lens grinder, revolutionized microscopy in the 17th century by improving the resolving power of microscopes to 200 times, allowing him to observe tiny organisms for the first time.

Light microscopes use visible light to illuminate and magnify specimens. They are commonly used in biology and medicine to view cells, microorganisms, and tissues.

Koch's postulates are a set of criteria used to establish a causal relationship between a microorganism and a disease. The second postulate states that the microbe must be isolated and grown in pure culture outside of the host, which is a critical step in proving its role in the disease.

Bioremediation is a process that uses microorganisms to clean up harmful pollutants in the environment. These microorganisms break down the pollutants into harmless substances.

Biofilms are complex, structured communities of microorganisms attached to a surface. These communities are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that provide protection and support.

The term microbiota refers to all the microorganisms that inhabit a particular region, such as the human gut or the soil. Unlike the microbiome, which refers to the collective genetic material of the microbiota, it specifically focuses on the diverse communities of microbes.

Microorganisms reproduce through different methods like cell division, binary fission, mitosis, and meiosis. Binary fission is the most common method of reproduction in prokaryotes and involves the splitting of a parent cell into two daughter cells.

Bacteria with flagellum at both ends are called amphitrichous. They have a flagellum at each end of the cell, enabling them to move in both directions.

Chitin is a tough, nitrogen-containing polysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi, some algae, and the exoskeletons of arthropods. It provides structural support and protection.

Prokaryotes lack a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes have a nucleus and other organelles enclosed within membranes. Prokaryotes are generally smaller and simpler than eukaryotes.

There are different types of microscopes: light microscopy, electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), and fluorescence microscopy. Each technique utilizes different methods and principles to visualize specimens at varying magnifications and resolutions.

Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, which retains the Gram stain and appears purple under a microscope. Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, which does not retain the stain and appears pink.

There are various types of bacterial cell morphology: cocci (spherical), bacilli (rod-shaped), and spirochetes (spiral-shaped). For example, Staphylococcus aureus is a cocci-shaped bacterium.

Enveloped viruses have a lipid membrane surrounding their protein capsid, which helps them attach to and enter host cells. Non-enveloped viruses lack this membrane and rely on other mechanisms for entry.

Candidiasis, a fungal infection caused by Candida albicans, is an opportunistic infection that can affect individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or with HIV/AIDS.

General growth media supports the growth of a wide range of microorganisms, while selective growth media contains components that inhibit the growth of certain microorganisms while allowing others to grow.

The generation time, also known as doubling time, refers to the time it takes for a bacterial population to double in size. This is a critical parameter for understanding bacterial growth and is influenced by environmental conditions.

Aseptic techniques are essential practices in microbiology labs to prevent contamination. These techniques help minimize the risk of introducing unwanted microbes during experiments, ensuring accurate results.

Microbial growth is influenced by various factors, including temperature, pH, oxygen availability, and nutrient availability. Each microorganism has an optimal range of these factors for growth.

Antibiotics are substances produced by microbes or synthesized chemically that inhibit the growth of or kill other microbes. They are widely used to treat bacterial infections.

Microbial resistance to antibiotics is a significant public health issue. It occurs when microbes develop the ability to survive and reproduce in the presence of antibiotics, making infections more difficult to treat.

A device used to magnify and view microscopic organisms.

Single-celled organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus.

A condition caused by a microorganism that disrupts normal bodily functions.

A chemical used to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

The spontaneous generation of life from non-living matter.

A type of microscope that uses fluorescence to illuminate and visualize specimens.

A type of microscopy that uses lasers to illuminate and create three-dimensional images.

A type of interaction where one organism benefits while the other is harmed.

A group of microorganisms that lack organelles and have a simple cellular structure.

The use of microbes to produce food, pharmaceuticals, or other products.

A substance produced by a fungus that inhibits the growth of bacteria.

The classification of organisms based on their evolutionary relationships.

The process where one or more organisms are inoculated with a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen to stimulate an immune response.

A waterborne disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae.

Tiny organisms originally observed by van Leeuwenhoek and later named 'animalcules'.

A method used to sterilize and disinfect surfaces by using ultraviolet radiation.

A type of microscope that uses light and lenses to magnify objects up to 1000 times.

A type of microscopy that uses lasers to scan a specimen, producing sharp, three-dimensional images.

The spontaneous generation of life from non-living matter. This theory has now been disproven.

A chemical agent that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on living tissue.

A type of light microscopy that uses specific wavelengths of light to illuminate specimens, allowing researchers to visualize specific structures or molecules.

An interaction between two organisms where one benefits at the expense of the other. One organism is the parasite, the other is the host.

An instrument used to magnify and observe microscopic organisms.

The use of microorganisms to clean up waste and industrial pollution.

A group of microorganisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus and other organelles.

A waterborne disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae, characterized by severe diarrhea.

Any disease caused by a microorganism.

A substance produced by a fungus (Penicillium) that inhibits the growth of bacteria.

A type of microscopy where the light waves pass through a specimen, producing an image.

The classification of organisms based on their evolutionary relationships.

Organisms originally named by van Leeuwenhoek, now known as microorganisms.

A process of introducing a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen into a host to stimulate an immune response.

A domain of life that includes prokaryotes that can live in extreme environments.

The use of microbes to produce food, pharmaceuticals, or other products.

A single-celled organism that lacks membrane-bound organelles and has a simple cellular structure.

A type of microscopy that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to illuminate specimens, producing fluorescent images.

A virus is an obligate intracellular parasite. It depends on a host cell to replicate.