Introduction to Bacteria
1. Define:
Spirochete - Spirochetes are thin, spiral-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria with unique flexible cell walls and axial filaments (periplasmic flagella). Most are free living (usually in water), but some are pathogens (Treponema - syphilis, Borrelia - Lyme disease)
Luciferase - Luciferase enzymes are coded for by regions of DNA called Lux genes. These enzymes are used to convert chemical energy into light energy, thus allowing organisms to glow in the dark.
Coliform - Bacteria identified as coliforms live inside the gastrointestinal system of humans and other animals (sometimes within the colon, a region of the large intestine) The presence of fecal coliforms in water, for example, Escherichia coli, is indicative of fecal contamination and potential for disease transmission.
Methanogenic - Methane producing or generating. This refers to organisms that produce methane as a by-product of their metabolic activities (they bind H2 with CO2 to form CH4). These organisms provide a potential energy source that can be utilized by humans.
Anoxygenic - Without oxygen production. This refers to organisms that do not produce oxygen in association with their photophosphorylation activities. Rhodospirillum is one example of an anoxygenic phototroph.
2. Spirochetes
3. Pseudomonads are used extensively in bioremediation (removing toxic waste materials from soil and/or water). They may be used to help clean up ocean beaches or other water environments that have been polluted due to oil spills, and they can be used to remove toxic chemicals from soil.
4. Rhizobium / Photobacterium / luciferase
5. Escherichia coli ( E. coli)
6. bioluminescent/ Lux gene
7. Micrococcus
8. Bacillus
9. Archaeobacteria (now Domain Archaea)/ bacteriorhodopsin Note - the archaea are no longer considered bacteria, but several terms used in association with this group retain "bacteria" as a suffix or prefix.
10. cyanobacteria
11. new antibiotics
12. G,C,I,H,J,B,A,E,D,F
Copyright 2002 Sierra College Biological Sciences Department
Last updated: 01/18/02.
