Evolution and Ecology of Microbes – Flashcards

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Wastewater Treatment
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screens remove large items
fine screens remove sediment
microbial ecosystems decompose soluble wastes
chemical applications remove everything else
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Faculative Intracellular Pathogens
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can live in host or freely
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Intracellular Pathogens
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seek refuge by invading host
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Pollutants that cause eutrophication
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nitrogen, phosphates
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Cold Seeps
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microbial communities at unheated benthic where methane and petroleum seep out
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Amensalism
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one species harms another (nonspecific)
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Synergism
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mutualism, but both species can thrive separately
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Syntropy
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feeding together of two species on something that wouldn't otherwise be digestable
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Metagenomics
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sequencing of genomes in an environmental community
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Pan-genome
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core genome and accessory genes present in isolates
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Core genome
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genes present in all sequenced genomes of species
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Hopanoids
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steroid-like molecules of bacteria membranes
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Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
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high resolution separation of large DNA fragments
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Restriction Fragment Polymorphism (RFLPs)
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variations in number and size of DNA fragments made by using restriction endonuclease
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Serotyping
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identifying variations within subspecies of pathogen
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How technology spreads disease
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colonization of woods and rainforests
transplants and transfusions
modern meat-processing
transportation
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Pandemic
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epidemic over large area
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Propagated Epidemic
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epidemic where infected spread disease to healthy
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Epidemic
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outbreak, high frequency over short period
from one source; little transmission by infected
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Endemic
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low frequency of disease; normally present
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Epidemiology
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study of factors affecting illness and health of populations
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Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) symptoms
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destruction of red blood cells
kidney failure
infection by AB toxins
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Pathogenic E. coli symptoms
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internal bleeding
bloody diarrhea
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Tuberculosis Infection Cycle
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encountered in air
enters lungs
infects lungs and can remain latent
most damage caused by immune response
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Survival strategies for pathogens of of cell, but still in host
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secretion of capsule
manufacturing of proteins that bind to antibodies
cause apoptosis of phagocytes
alter cell surface
(all to avoid detection and attachment of antibodies)
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Survival strategies for pathogens in cell
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use hemolysin to break out of phagosome
secrete proteins to prevent fusion of phagosome with lysosome
mature in acidic lysosome
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Vectors
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intermediates for pathogen transmission
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Fomites
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inanimate objects that relay pathogens
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Opportunistic pathogens
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cause disease in compromised host
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Primary pathogens
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cause disease in otherwise healthy host by breaching defenses
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Signature-tagged mutagenesis
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mutate pathogen and tag it
inoculate host
recover pathogen and determine which mutations prevented growth in host
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in vivo expression technology
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identify promotors that transcribe only when infecting a host
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Type IV secretion pathway
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similar to conjugation
transports DNA and proteins
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Type III secretion pathway
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injects proteins directly into host using flagellum
injection induces engulfment
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Type II secretion pathway
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uses structures similar to pili that extend/contract for motility and injection of toxins
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Type I secretion pathway
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proteins form continuous pathway through membrane of bacteria
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Lipopolysaccharides
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endotoxin that activates inflammatory response that can also cause toxic shock
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Anthrax toxin
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edema factor raises cAMP levels causing fluid secretion/swelling
lethal factor cleaves protein kinases, which halts immune system
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Diphtheria
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blocks ribosome causing cell death
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Cholera toxin
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ribosylates overactivate adenylate cyclase
cAMP activates ion transport, water follows causing diarrhea
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AB toxin
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5 B subunits surround A and delivers A to host
A subunit is toxic
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5 types of toxin function
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1. causes host cell membrane leakage
2. block protein synthesis
3. block 2nd messenger pathways
4. superantigens overactivate immune system
5. proteases cleave host proteins
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Pilus assembly
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protein secreted into periplasm
secreted to site of assembly
subunits strung together
tips of pili bind to host
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Type IV pili
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mannose resistant
dynamic; various surface arrangements
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Type III pili
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mannose resistant; bind to red blood cells
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Type I pili
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adhere to mannose residues on host cell surface
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Pili/Fimbriae
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hollow fibrils made of pilin with tips that bind to host
prevents expulsion from host
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Pathogenicity island characteristics
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multiple genes associated with pathogenicity transferred as block from other organisms
flanked by phage or plasmid genes
different base ratio than other parts of genome
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Examples of virulence factors
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toxins, attachment proteins, capsules
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Lethal Dose (LD50)
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number of organisms to kill 50% of hosts
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Virulence
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frequency of lethal infections
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Infectious Dose (ID50)
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number of organisms to colonize 50% of host
measure pathogenicity
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Exotoxin
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nonprotein; hyperactivates immune system
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Endotoxin
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toxic proteins; kills host to unlock nutrients
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Pathogenicity
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ability to cause disease
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Steps of Infection
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1. encounter
2. entry
3. establish infection
4. cause damage
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Benefits of biofilms to microbes
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protection from:
predators
phages
biocides
antibiotics
immunophagocytes
antibodies
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Biofilms
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community of bacteria enclosed in ECM
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Quorum sensing compounds
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oligopeptides (gram +)
n-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) (gram -)
Al-2 INTER species communication (gram +/-)
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Uses of quorum sensing
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adapt to availability of nutrients
defense
avoidance of toxins
coordination of virulence to escape
immune response and establish infection
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Quorum sensing
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ability of bacteria to communicate and coordinate behavior via small molecules (inter and intra species)
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Microbial predators
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protists, viruses, bacterial predators
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Tube worms and microbes
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worm takes up CO2 and H2S
microbes must oxidize to make organic matter
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Metabolism of deep sea ocean vents
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producers oxides H2S for energy
methanogens and methanotrophs prevent CO2 buildup
hydrogen oxidizers convert H2 and S --> H2S
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Hawaiian bobtailed squid
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host for bioluminescent bacteria
bacteria emit light to match moonlight to eliminate shadow on ocean floor
undetectable by predators
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Microbes and coral
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bacteria and algae help coral fix N2, photosynthesis, protection against pathogens
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Rumen and microbes
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break down cellulose in anaerobic environment
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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
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improve acquisition of phosphate, nitrogen, water
reduce incidence of root disease
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Rhizosphere
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region of soil surrounding rocks
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Rhizoplane
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root surface
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Mycorrhizae
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fungal infection in plants that increase ability to absorb nutrients
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Rhizobium infection cycle
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legumes secrete flavanoids
rhizobia express nod genes and enter cortical cells
remains in symbiosome
Rhizobia fix nitrogen; plant provides nutrients
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Chloroplast homolog
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cyanobacteria
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Mitochondria homolog
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rickettsiae
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Syntrophy
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both organisms combine metabolic capabilities to catabolize substances they couldn't alone
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Winograsky column
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model of wetland with regions of enrichment for different microbes
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Cycle leading to acid rain
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phytoplankton produce DMSP to protect against UV
other bacteria convert DMSP-->DMS (volatile, acts as nuclei for cloud formation)
DMS is hydrated to sulfuric acid, which falls as acid rain
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Characteristics of phosphorus cycle
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same oxidation state
no gas intermediate
soluble in oceans
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Dissimilatory nitrate
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used as and e- acceptor in e- transport chain
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Assimilatory nitrate
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used as nutrient
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Annamox
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anaerobic formation of N2 from ammonia and nitrite
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Denitrification
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cascade of anaerobic respirations converting nitrate-->N2
nitrate-->nitrite-->nitric oxide-->nitrous oxide-->nitrogen gas
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Nitrification
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ammonia-->nitrite-->nitrate
oxidation
makes nitrogen available to plants
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Nitrogen fixation
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nitrogen gas-->ammonia
nitrogenase reduces nitrogen
complex cofactors make it oxygen sensitive
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Methylotrophs (rxn too.)
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oxidize methane to CO2
CH4 + SO4 --> CO2 + H2S + OH-
CH4 + H2O --> CO2 + 4H2
removal of H2 drives rxn to right
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Methanogenic Archaea
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break down trapped carbon compounds in anaerobic environments to CH4
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Why viruses aren't "living"
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no cellular integrity
only a protein and nucleic acid
depend on host for survival and replication
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Dinoflagellates
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alveolate
2 long flagella
red algal chloroplast
secrete neurotoxins via extrusome
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Yeast classification
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unicellular fungi
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Growth of fungi
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growth material is secreted at hyphal tips
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Fungi food absorption
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must absorb as individual molecules
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Material of fungi walls
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chitin
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Alveolates
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ciliated protists
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Protist classifications
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amoebas, alveolates, heterokonts, euglenozoa, excavates
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Archaeal genomes
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circular, similar to bacteria
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Protein chemistry for increased stability
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ion pairs, acidic/basic residues, disulfide bridges, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions
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Archaeal lipids
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ether-linked, making it more resistant to acid and heat
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2 phyla of Archaea
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Crenarchaeotes
Euryarchaeotes
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H. pylori
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causes stomach ulcers
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Gram-negative proteobacteria
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light-supplemented heterotrophs
adaptable metabolisms
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Akinetes
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specialized pore cells
survive desiccation and then germinate at better conditions
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Hormogonia
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short chains of motile cells
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Gas vesicles
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used for buoyancy to maintain position
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Carboxysomes
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carbon dioxide fixation location
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Thylakoids
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photosynthetic apparatus separate from plasma membrane
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Heterocysts
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cell part specialized in nitrogen fixing
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Cyanobacteria
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oxygenic phototrophs
photolyze water to make oxygen
photolyze hydrogen
reduce sulfur compounds
only bacteria producers
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Chloroflexi
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phototrphic, filamentous
moderate thermophiles
lots of membrane-bound chlorophylls
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Xerophile
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have little water activity
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Psychrophile
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live at low temperature environments
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Oligotroph
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live in low carbon environment
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Hyperthermophile
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live in high temperature environments
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Halophile
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lives in high salt environments
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Endolith
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live within rock crystals
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Prebiotic soup
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basic components from abiotic factors infused with electricity formed biomolecules
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Panspernia
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idea that life came from other planets
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Metabolism of early microbes
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sulfur-based
anaerobic metabolism
reduction of nitrate and sulfate
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Early Earth atmosphere
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CH4, CO2, N2, NH4+, H2S, FeS, CO, H2
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Viroids
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infectious single strand RNA
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Stanely Prusiner
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studied prions causing scrapie
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Fleming
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discovered penicillin killed gram + bacteria
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Hershey and Chase
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demonstrated DNA is responsible for bacteriophage infection
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Koch's postulates
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microbe found in all cases, but not healthy
microbe isolated and grown
induce disease by introducing microbe
can obtain microbe from diseased
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Leeuwenhoek
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first to observe bacteria with a lens
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Robert Hooke
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developed first compound microscope
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Louis Pasteur
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germ theory
boiled broth in necked glass exposed to air to disprove spontaneous generation
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Lazarro Spallanzani
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boiled broth in evacuated chamber and sealed, no spontaneous generation
thought that spontaneous generation required air
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John Needham
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boiled broth that clouded days later; thought to be spontaneous generation
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Francisco Reidi
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studied infestation of maggots on meat
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Edward Jenner
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used cowpox pustules as smallpox vaccine
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Microbes are:
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ubiquitous
abundant
diverse
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RNA World Theory
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RNA can:
store info
duplicate
catalyze (ribosomes)
later, DNA and proteins took over these roles
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Definition of Life
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structure and form
catalytic activity
self-replication
membrane compartmentalization
metabolism of energy
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Barophile
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live in high pressure environment
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Alkaliphile
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live in basic environments
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Acidophiles
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live in acidic environments
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Metabolist theory
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components of metabolism arose from self-sustaining abiotic rxns
proteins and metabolism formed first
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Extremophiles
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species that grow in extreme environments
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Psychrophiles
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thrive at cold temperatures
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Paralogous proteins
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gene duplication and independent mutation of two protein lines
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Orthologous proteins
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proteins that diverge from one another in different species
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Proteobacteria resemble...
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mitochondria
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Endosymbiosis example: sea slug & chloroplasts
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sea slugs engulf chloroplasts
chloroplasts perform photosynthesis
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Endosymbiosis example: aphids
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have symbionts that make essential amino acids for them
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Endosymbiosis example: amoeba and cyanobacteria
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cyanobacteria provides food
amoeba provides protection
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Virulence factors
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help establish organism that can alter host functions to cause disease
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Immunopathogenesis
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when immune response to pathogen is contributing cause to pathology
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Genomic islands
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group of genes transferred together horizontally frequently
linked to tRNA
abnormal base-pair ratio
flanked by genes similar to phage/plasmid
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Horizontal gene transfer
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DNA transfer via plasmids, transposons, bacteriophages
with genes coding for metabolism, stress response, pathogenicity
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Vertical gene transfer
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parent-->child
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Reductive evolution
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loss or mutation of DNA encoding for unselected traits
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Shared ancestor (progenote) characteristics
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genetic code
fueling pathways
protein synthesis
very inefficient
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When microbes originated
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3 billion years ago
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Requirements for phylogenetic marker study
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gene must be present in organisms studied
gene can't be horizontally transferred
gene must have conservation
must be large enough
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Chemiosmotic theory
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redox reactions of e- transport chain store energy in proton gradients in mitochondria
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Lithotrophs
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feed on only inorganic minerals
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Archaea
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can survive extreme pH and temperatures
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Lichens
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algae live in fungus
algae provides food
fungus provides protection
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Stomalites
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layers of earliest microorganisms
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Types of microbes
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bacteria
archaea
eukaryotic microbes: yeasts, protists, algae
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Thermophile
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live in hot water
branched off early
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