Question | Answer |
what is the role of normal/resident flora? | to protect the human body from pathogens (this is a normal condition). |
What is the purpose of safranin in the gram stain technique? | counter or secondary stain |
Which substance of the bacterial cell wall basically determines whether a bacteria will stain gram positive or gram negative using the Gram stain technique? | The amount of lipid(fat) content contained within the cell wall. |
What two types of microorgranisms make up the majority of normal/resident flora? | Bacteria and yeasts |
What are transient flora? | Microorganisms that colonize rhe human body for awhile, then are gone. |
What are two factors that determine the exact composition of a person's normal/resident flora? | The age and health of the host |
Term used to describe organisms that are capable of causing disease. | Pathogen or Pathogenic organism |
What is the function of the cell wall of microorganisms? | To protect the cell from the environment |
What is the role of "plasmids" when found within a bacterial cell? | Plasmids protect the bacterial cell from harsh environmental conditions. |
What is the purpose of iodine in the gram stain technique? | Mordant which enhances staining outcome |
What term is used to describe an organism that normally does not cause disease, however, if the host becomes compromised, can subsequently cause infection/disease? | Opportunistic organism |
Where do normal/resident flora reside on the human body? | Normal or Resident flora live ON or IN the body. |
What is the purpose of alcohol/acetone in the gram stain technique? | Decolorizer |
What color do organisms stained with the Gram Stain technique appear under the microscope if they are considered "gram negative"? | Pink |
List the names of the reagents used for the gram stain technique. | Crystal violet, Iodine, Alcohol/Acetone, and Safranin |
Term used to describe cells with a singular, circular chromosome that have no tissue/organ structure. | Prokaryote |
Decribe the shape (morphology) of the bacilli cell wall. | rodlike cells--short or long, having rounded or tapered ends---looks "hairy" |
What are the three main shapes (morphologies) of bacterial cell walls? | cocci, bacilli or rods, spirals |
Describe the shape (morphology) of the cocci bacterial cell wall. | round or oval |
Describe the shape (morphology) of the spiral cell wall. | helical cells, coiled |
Term used to describe cells with more than one chromosome that have tissue/organ structure. | Eukaryote |
What color do organisms stain with the Gram stain technique appear under the microscope if they are considered "gram positive"? | Purple |
What is the term used to describe the microorganisms that begin to colonize the human body at birth? | Normal or Resident flora |
What type of organism--Prokaryote or Eukaryote-- is a bacteria? | Prokaryote |
How are microorganisms named? | Binomial nomenclature: Genus and species |
What three substances comprise the content of bacterial cell walls? | Carbohydrates (sugars); lipids (fats), and proteins |
What staining technique is commonly used in the microbiology department? | Gram stain technique |
What is the purpose of crystal violet in the gram stain technique? | primary stain |