Test 1 - Bacillus anthracis

Question 1

What is its genus? What does it mean for its structure and cell wall?

Answer 1

Bacillus; Rod-shaped and Gram +

Question 2

What is its organization in terms of flagella?

Answer 2

Peritrichous.

Question 3

What part makes B. anthracis more dangerous? What is it made of, and what is its effect on cell? When and where is it developed?

Answer 3

Capsule. Made up of Poly-O-Glutamic Acid. (-) charge means that bacteria as whole is more (-) charged, and causes it to be shielded from macrophages. It is made in host before germination.

Question 4

What group does it belong to? 3 Other organisms?

Answer 4

Firmicates.

1. Streptococcus
2. Straphylococcus
3. Listoria

Question 5

Is it an aerobe or an anaerobe? What metabolism does it perform?

Answer 5

Obligate aerobe. It performs glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.

Question 6

It is a (chemo/photo)(autotroph/heterotroph).

Answer 6

Chemoheterotroph.

Question 7

Chemo- means:

Answer 7

C from organic molecules.

Question 8

Photo- means:

Answer 8

C from CO2.

Question 9

-autotroph means:

Answer 9

Energy from light

Question 10

-heterotroph means:

Answer 10

Energy from OXIDATION of organic molecules.

Question 11

What does Bacillus anthracis secrete to access food?

Answer 11

Zn2+ metalloprotease.

Question 12

What does Zn2+ Metalloprotease do? Why do they do that? (3)

Answer 12

1. Break peptide bonds; to digest p.p. into a.a, which they can use for growth and energy.
2. Breakdown collagen; to leak and eventually burst BLOOD VESSELS, which means + nutrients.
3. Lyse RBC and Macrophage; for + nutrient and to prevent immune defense, respectively.

Question 13

What is the advantage of digesting p.p. into a.a.?

Answer 13

no energy spent creating its own a.a. de novo (from scratch)

Question 14

What other exotoxins do Bacillus anthracis secrete? (3). Why?

Answer 14

1. Lethal Factor (LF): Kills cells
2. Edema Factor (EF): Causes tissues to swell.
3. Protective Antigen (PA): NOT EXOTOXIN BY ITSELF, but allows LF and EF to enter host cells.
   - All three + nutrient and - immune response, like the third function of Zn2+ metalloprotease.

Question 15

Does B. anthracis grow? How?

Answer 15

Elongation.

Question 16

Does B. anthracis develop? How?

Answer 16

Yes. Forms endospores.

Question 17

What triggers the germination of B. anthracis endospore? What happens as a result?

Answer 17

+ [CO2] / blood components–> Transcription of genes for emergence and infection.

Question 18

Does B. anthracis reproduce? How?

Answer 18

Binary Fission.

Question 19

What is the single purpose in B. anthracis’ adaptations?

Answer 19

Infecting the host.

Question 20

What are 3 methods of infection for B. anthracis? What is the distinguishing characteristic of the most common form?

Answer 20

1. Cutaneous Anthrax: from cut/abrasion. Causes skin ulcer caused by Zn2+ metalloprotease, which ++ SA where B. anthracis may enter the host.
2. Gastrointestinal Anthrax
3. Pulmonary Anthrax

Question 21

How is it treated? Why does this treatment work? What happens without treatment?

Answer 21

Penicillin or derivative, because Gram + means a lot of peptidoglycan for the penicillin to mess. Without treatment, if B. anthracis enters the bloodstream proper, it causes septicemia (widespread infection.)

Question 22

What genetic components causes germination? (2) How does it work?

Answer 22

Acp A and Atx A. Exact mechanism unknown, but without these, B. anthracis does not germinate.