M5: Assessing Unknown Pathogens Overview

Question 1

3 things to observe when assessing unknown pathogens

Answer 1

1. morphological characteristics (size/shape)
2. presence of motility under microscope
3. differential testing results (gram stain, chemical reactions, color changes)

Question 2

gram-positive bacteria to know (4)

Answer 2

• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus
• Clostridium
• Bacillus anthracis

Question 3

gram-negative bacteria to know (5)

Answer 3

• Legionella
• Yersinia pestis
• Neisseria gonorrheoea
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Treponema pallidum

Question 4

negative staining required (1)

Answer 4

Borrelia burgdorferi

Question 5

acid-fast staining required (1)

Answer 5

Mycobacterium

Question 6

coccus shaped bacteria (3)

Answer 6

aka round

• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae (diplococcic)

Question 7

bacillus shaped bacteria (4)

Answer 7

aka rod-shaped

• Clostridium
• Yersinia pestis
• Bacillus anthracis
• Chlamydia trachomatis

Question 8

spirochete shaped bacteria (2)

Answer 8

• Borrelia burgdorferi

- Treponema pallidum

Question 9

motile bacteria (3)

Answer 9

• Borrelia burgdorferi (multi-flagellated)
• Neisseria gonorrhoeae (uses pili)
• Legionella (single flagellum)

Question 10

aerobic bacteria (3)

Answer 10

• Mycobacterium
• Legionella
• Bacillus anthracis

Question 11

facultative anaerobic bacteria (2)

Answer 11

• Staphylococcus

- Yersinia pestis

Question 12

anaerobic bacteria (2)

Answer 12

• Clostridium

- Borrelia burgdorferi

Question 13

facultative anaerobe

Answer 13

can grow aerobically and anaerobically

Question 14

commensal bacterium

Answer 14

neither harms nor helps host

Question 15

obligate parasite

Answer 15

• requires host

- to grow in a culture, must add sample to a culture of viable cells