We know fungi are eukaryotic (have membrane-bound nucleus and organelles). Explain three unique ways fungi are different from other microbes (algae, protozoans, bacteria and archaea). Compare things like cell walls, cell membranes, morphology, reproduction, life cycles. (Words to use in your answer include chitin, cellulose, peptidoglycan, pseudopeptidoglycan, ergosterol, hopanoids, cholesterol,mycelium, hyphae, multinucleate, multicellular, unicellular, nutritional needs, environmental needs, chemoheterotrophy, saprobes, parasites, free-living, reproductive strategies, spores).
Algae and protozoans are loosely grouped together as protists and are different from plants because they lack certain characteristics of plants. Explain what differentiates algae from plants and two ways they are different from protozoans. Talk about algae being part of our environment and how algae may positively or negatively impact our health or the environment.
(Words to use in your answer: cell wall, cell membrane, chloroplast, plankton, single-cell, multicellular, red tide, toxins, agar, phytoplankton, reproduction, motility, nutrition, feeding strategies)
Discuss the similarities and differences between animal and bacterial virus multiplication.
(Words/concepts to include in your answer: attachment, adsorption, penetration, uncoating, synthesis, assembly, persistence, lysogeny, latency, release)
Based upon data from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP), define microbial antagonism and discuss how the various microbial populations keep each other “in check” with consequences for human health.
Compare aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration and fermentation. How are the processes similar? How are they different? How do these processes determine which environment the organism can live in?[Key terms to use in answer: electron transport chain, cytochrome, ATP, glucose, glycolysis, obligate aerobe, facultative anaerobe, microaerophile, obligate anaerobe, oxidase, catalase, peroxidase, CO2, organic acids and alcohols, alternative substrates (other than glucose)]
Using your knowledge of DNA recombination events to complete the following:
Propose two ways in which antibiotic resistance may develop in a bacterium
Describe how bacterial cells acquire the ability to produce toxins
(Use the following terminology in your answer: recombination, DNA, horizontal gene transfer, conjugation, transformation, transduction, pilus, F factor, transposable elements, transposons, pathogenicity islands)
Discuss how a pathogen causes an infection. Include definitions for primary pathogen, opportunistic pathogen, infection, disease (caused by a living organism), and various stages of pathogenesis. You can choose a specific organism to describe (like Orthomyxovirus and Influenza) or discuss a generalized infection.
Describe each type of infection in the following list and include the mode of transmission in each scenario. Use terms such as primary, secondary, healthcare-associated, STI, mixed, latent, toxemia, chronic, zoonotic, asymptomatic, local, and systemic to describe the types of infections (more than one term may apply, some may not apply to these conditions)
1) The development of Pneumocystisis pneumonia in an AIDS patient
2) Salmonellosis
3) Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome infection acquired while vacationing in a log cabin
You are interested in obtaining Staphylococcus aureus for a study investigating the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the general population. You have received several samples and are ready to start your isolation procedures. Describe the personal protective equipment that would be needed and three different culturing techniques that can be used to obtain organisms to produce pure cultures. State if you use general or selective media and which specific media you would choose. How would you determine if the culture was contaminated? What is the first step you would take if you detected contamination?
Explain the different stages of syphilis. (Terminology/topics to include: causative organism (morphology, gram-stain reaction), mode of transmission, chancre, gumma, symptoms, likelihood of infection, treatment options at different stages, damage that can occur during different stages, prevention methods).
List three protozoan infections of the circulatory system that are transmitted by arthropods. Include the disease name, specific organism (genus species), vector that is the intermediate between hosts, and disease progress in humans.
Many types of fruits and vegetables can be fermented into alcoholic beverages. Such was the case recently when prisoners in Utah attempted to make an illegal beverage called “pruno”; however, someone added a weeks-old baked potato to the mix, letting a microbe into the party who was clearly uninvited. Consumers of the pruno began to develop difficulty swallowing, vomiting, double vision, and muscle weakness; three required ventilation therapy. No deaths were attributed to the contaminated beverage.
A) What nervous system disease were the prisoners suffering from, and what was the specific organism involved?
B) Based on your knowledge of this disease, what form of treatment was used to successfully avoid the worst outcomes of the disease in these patients?
HIV predominantly infects T-helper cells, cells that are responsible for coordinating B- and T-cell activity. Based on this information, explain why HIV-infected individuals are at a very high risk for developing microbial infections. List the causative agent (virus) and discuss its properties. Name and briefly discuss 3 diseases that AIDS patients are more likely to contract.(Terminology to use: opportunistic pathogens, T and B cell purposes, CD4 cells, retrovirus, reverse transcription)
Now that we have studied the various types of vaccines, consider the current resurgence of diseases like the measles. How can we convince the general public and possibly even ourselves, that immunization is a necessary preventative measure for diseases that have serious complications? Is there a different schedule that we should consider? Are some forms of vaccines safer than others? Should we spread out the inoculation schedule to prevent confusion of a young person? (Include terms such as live attenuated, killed or inactive, subunit, toxoid, conjugate, complications of measles, risks to others if uninoculated, risks to individuals that do get inoculated). You are encouraged to use your text and outside sources to develop your informed answer. Use facts and concepts.
Construct a paragraph or two describing the interrelationship among a bacterial pathogen, the affected host, and potential antimicrobial drugs in the development of an appropriate antimicrobial treatment. Pick a pathogen, suggest tests that should be performed on that pathogen to determine the specific drugs and give reasons why they would be appropriate. (Terminology to incorporate: narrow-spectrum, broad-spectrum, MIC, Kirby-Bauer, therapeutic index, selective toxicity, drug mechanism)
Conduct additional research on the use of triclosan and other chemical agents in antimicrobial products today. Develop an opinion on whether this process should continue, providing evidence to support your stance.
Genetic information has become part of our culture and it is difficult to tell the difference between unmodified and genetically modified food sources such as plant and animals. After reading this module’s material regarding vectors in biotechnology, consider the potential for nanotechnology and scientific advancement.Research nanotechnology and its potential use in biotechnology. In one or two paragraphs, explain the potential advantages and disadvantages of nanotechnology in health care, agriculture, or industry and discuss whether you would or would not support further research.