Bacteria and Viruses Study Guide

Bacteria:
 Microscopic prokaryotes
 No nucleus or membrane-bound organelles
 Contain ribosomes
 Single chromosomes in nucleiod region
 Many are beneficial; only some cause disease
 Kingdoms of Bacteria:
o Archeabacteria:
 Themoacidophiles- very hot, acidic environments
 Extreme halophiles- very high salt concentrations
 Methanogens- anaerobic (killed by oxygen), give off methane gas,
many live in the guts of animals and humans
o Eubacteria: “true bacteria” most are in this group
 Gram +
• In soil and air. Some forms used to make certain foods and
medicines
 Gram –
• Include many photosynthetic forms. Not all produce O²
 Mycoplasmas
• Lack cell walls, have triple layered membrane made of
lipids
• Smallest life. Most are harmless, but some can make you
sick
 Bacterial shapes:
o Bacillus: rod shaped
o Coccus: round
o Vibrio: comma shaped
o Spirillum: spiral shaped
o Spirochete: wormlike spiral shaped
 Grouping of bacteria:
o Diplo- groups of two
o Strepto- chain
o Staphylo- grapelike clusters
 Pathogenic Bacteria: germs or microbes; cause disease; may produce
poisons or toxins.
o Endotoxins released after bacteria die
o Excotoxins released by gram + bacteria
Viruses:
 A non-cellular particle made up of genetic material and protein that can
invade living cells
 Have living and non-living characteristics
 Can be killed or crystallized
 Can not maintain homeostasis
 Smaller than the smallest cell
 Could not be seen until electron microscope was invented
 Discovery of Viruses:
o Edward Jenner (1796)- developed a smallpox vaccine
o Beijerinck (1897)- found that viruses can make healthy plants sick
o Wendell Stanley (1935)- discovered viruses are made of nucleic acid and
protein
 Contain a protein called a capsid
 Capable of reproducing only inside a host cell, inactive outside a host cell
 Viruses only infect specific host cells
 Lytic Cycle:
1. attachment to the host cell
2. penetration and injection of viral DNA or RNA into host cell
3. replication of new viral proteins and nucleic acids
4. assembly of the new viruses
5. cell bursts (lyses) and releases the newly created viruses
 Lysogenic Cycle:
1. attaches to the host cell
2. injects it’s genetic material into the host cell
3. virus’s genetic material combines with the host cell’s DNA
4. when the host cell reproduces, the virus material is also reproduced and
packaged into new host cells
5. creates more infected host cells
 Eukaryotic viruses remain dormant for many years in nervous system
tissue
 Vaccines:
o An attenuated virus is a weakened lass vigorous virus
o Vaccines are made from attenuated versions of viruses
o Simulates an immune response and creates immunity without causing
illness
o Interferons are proteins made by cells to fight viruses
o Protease inhibitors prevent capsid formation (protein coat)