Microbiology and immune system
Viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi
V, B, P, F are all:
Hugely diverse group found in all environments.
Occur in vast numbers
Vary in size:
1. Invisible to naked eye – micro-organisms (microbes)
2. Visible – macro-organisms
Acellular (V) or cellular (B, P, F)
Prokaryotes – B
Eukaryotes – F, P
Unicellular or form colonies
Characteristics:
Extremely small – microscopic
Exist in 2 states
1. Virus – when active
2. Virion – when dormant (not in contact with host)
Not living organisms
Only survive inside host cells
Only reproduce inside a living cell
Always associated with disease
Can remain dormant within an organism
Structure:
Acellular – not a cell
Core of DNA or RNA
Hereditary information not enclosed in a nuclear membrane.
Nucleic acid surrounded by protein coat or capsid.
Some viruses, capsid is covered by an envelope of a lipid bilayer. Used to protect the virus from
host’s nuclease enzyme.
Bacteria
, Unicellular micro-organisms
Group - Monera
General characteristics:
Most diverse and abundant group.
Inhabit all env.
Extremophiles: thrive in climatic or environmental extremes. (Intense heat or cold)
Mostly useful.
Unicellular among the smallest organisms.
Vary in shape:
1. Cocci – spherical bacteria
2. Bacilli – rod-shaped bacteria
3. Spiralla – spiral shaped
4. Vibrios – comma-shaped
Exist singly, in chains or in clumps.
In favorable conditions bacteria reproduce by binary fission.
In unfavorable conditions bacteria can survive dormant.
Structure:
Unicellular
Rigid cell wall
Plasma membrane is a multipurpose structure:
- Serves as mitochondrion, endoplasmic reticulum and sometimes even chloroplast.
- Also controls entry and exit of materials.
Procaryotes
- No nuclear membrane
- DNA does not combine with histone, protein as in eukaryotic cells.
Closed loop of bacteria.
Waxy capsule as outermost layer.
Flagella, enable them to move.
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