What is the function of pili
Attachment to host cells, other bacteria, or surfaces allowing the infection, colonization, or DNA transfer
mating process in gram-negative bacteria
how does a pilus help spread antibiotic resistance
through bacterial CONJUGATION of resistance-carrying plasmids
What bacterial structure is responsible for gonococcus and where in the body
pilus; reproductive tract
what is the role of a bacterial capsule
important mucoid surface layer endowing resistance to phagocytosis by WBC in many pathogenic bacteria
like a slippery bar of soap
what diseases is the capsule responsible for
meningitis, pneumococcal, and Hib diseases
what is Koch’s first postulate
the suspected pathogenic organism should be present in all cases of the disease and absent from healthy animals
may be circumstantial
how are Koch’s postulates observed
1: observes blood under microscope
2. streak agar plate with sample from either diseased or healthy animal
3. remove blood or tissue sample and observe by microscopy
4. laboratory culture (pure culture recognition)
what is Koch’s second postulate
the suspected organism should be grown in pure culture outside of the animal
What is Koch’s third postulate
cells from a pure culture of the suspected organism should cause disease in a healthy animal
what is Koch’s fourth postulate
biopsy of the animal should re-iosolate the organism grown to be the same as the original
What is transduction
DNA transfer via viral infection
like delivery services
what is transfromation
DNA uptake by a competent live bacterial cell likely from a dead bacterial cell
What is fimbriae
important attachment surface appendage with specific portions that recognize specific targets on the humans cells of the urinary tract
What is flagellum and what does it allow
powers motility in surrounding fluids-allows chemotaxis (moving directed movement)
how is the motion of a flagellum denoted
T = tumble (3D turn), R = run
if the bacteria is running away from the positive chemotaxis, it will run shorter than it would if it was running towards from the positive chemotaxis
can be used to design anti-infection catheters
how is flagellum related to the immune system
it is highly antigenic: recognized by the immune system because it is a long foreign body
What is the cell wall materials made of and why does this matter
negative electrically charged material
dyes for bacteria need to be positively charged for it to bind to the cell
what is the use of the cell wall to human observation
to classify different types of bacteria: the basis for the Gram stain
what components of the cell wall are not found in human cells that are signals of microbial presence in human bodies
Teichoic acid
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Peptidoglycan
What are peptidoglycan for
structural support for the cell wall that can be attacked to treat infection
What are the characteristics of a gram-positive cell
2 layers
thick cell wall of peptidoglycan and the cell membrane
purple stain
What are the basic characteristics of a gram-negative membrane
3 layers
cell wall: outer membrane layer and thin peptidoglycan layer
cell membrane
with more periplasmic space than gram-positive
pink counterstain
Describe gram-positive cell wall
Thicker homogenous sheath of peptidoglycan
teichoic acid chains (both peripheral and integral)
What is cell wall teichoic acid
polymer of ribotol or glycerol and phosphate embedded in the peptidoglycan sheath