20 Questions
Which process is responsible for the enrichment of dissolved metals, particularly Cu2+, in the liquid emerging from the bottom of the ore pile during microbial leaching of copper?
Bacterial oxidation of ferrous ion to ferric ion
What is the primary role of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the microbial leaching of uranium and gold?
Reoxidizing Fe2+ to Fe3+
What environmental problem is associated with acid mine drainage in coal-mining regions?
Oxidation of metal sulfide by bacteria resulting in acidic conditions
What is the function of the hormone strigolactones released by plant roots in the context of arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonization?
Stimulate growth of the root systems and germination of fungal spores
What distinguishes primary symbionts from secondary symbionts in insects?
Required for host reproduction
Where do bacterial cells reside in the specialized region of the host called bacteriome?
Bacteriocytes
What is the main fermentation product of ruminant microbes in the rumen?
Volatile fatty acids
What is the role of Wolbachia in ~50% of insect species?
Causing inviability in progeny when infected males mate with uninfected females
What is the function of symbiotic microorganisms in defensive symbiosis in insects?
Producing toxic and antimicrobial chemicals to deter pathogens and predators
What do anaerobic gut communities in termites produce?
Acetate and organic acids
What is the main role of bioluminescent bacteria in certain marine animals?
Aiding in communication, predator avoidance, and prey attraction
What is the purpose of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) in breastmilk?
Metabolized by bacteria in the large intestine
Which factor contributes to the difficulty of studying the impact of the gut microbiome on health and development using human subjects?
The inability to perform selective gene knockout in humans
What did the study on the gut microbiota and obesity reveal about germ-free mice?
They gained weight when given normal mouse microbiota
What has the study of obese humans and their gut microbiota shown in comparison to non-obese humans?
Obese humans have a consistent microbiotic signature compared to non-obese humans
What is a characteristic of the microbiota in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Changes in diversity and metabolic activity of microbiota in IBS patients are not reported
What has been observed in animal models regarding maternal immune activation (mIA)?
mIA involves elevated levels of inflammatory factors in the blood, placenta, and amniotic fluid during pregnancy
What is a consequence of oral antibiotic use in the human gut?
Decrease in the diversity of gut microbiota
What is the role of prebiotics in the human gut?
They provide nutrition for fermentative gut bacteria
What is a characteristic of probiotics?
They confer a health benefit to the host
Study Notes
Symbiotic Relationships in Nature
- Wolbachia is a secondary endosymbiont in ~50% of insect species, causing inviability in progeny when infected males mate with uninfected females
- Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes show reduced transmission of viruses like dengue and yellow fever, offering promise in combatting mosquito-borne diseases
- Insects use defensive symbiosis, with symbiotic microorganisms producing toxic and antimicrobial chemicals to deter pathogens and predators
- Termites have diverse anaerobic gut communities capable of digesting cellulose and producing acetate and organic acids
- Bioluminescent bacteria colonize specialized light organs in certain marine animals, aiding in communication, predator avoidance, and prey attraction
- Mammalian gut systems have evolved to accommodate herbivorous lifestyles through microbial associations enabling plant fiber catabolism
- Ruminant animals possess a specialized digestive organ, the rumen, where cellulose and plant polysaccharides are digested with the help of microbes
- The rumen microbiota consists of bacteria, archaea (methanogens), ciliate protozoa, and fungi, with each contributing to the digestion of fibrous polysaccharides
- Polysaccharide-degrading enzymes and cellulosomes on the surface of anaerobic bacteria and fungi in the rumen enable efficient digestion of polysaccharides
- The main fermentation products of ruminant microbes are volatile fatty acids, methane, and carbon dioxide, serving as the animal's main energy source
- Microbial populations in the rumen rapidly change in response to diet, providing proteins for the animal and affecting the animal's energy harvest
- Breastmilk contains lactose, fats, and 200 human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) that cannot be digested by babies but are metabolized by bacteria in the large intestine
Test your knowledge of symbiotic relationships in nature with this quiz. Explore how various organisms rely on mutualistic partnerships with bacteria and other microorganisms for survival and adaptation. Topics include insect endosymbionts, defensive symbiosis, gut microbiota in termites and ruminant animals, and the role of microbial associations in mammalian digestion and breastmilk metabolism.
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