National Microbiology Quiz

Organised by Nanyang Polytechnic & Singapore Society for Microbiology & Biotechnology (SSMB)

Scope of the Quiz

The Historical Perspective and Development of Microbiology Brief history of microbiology. The relationship between microbes and our lives and the key figures who developed the science of microbiology. The observations, hypotheses, postulates and theories in the development of microbiology. Microbiology in Our Lives and History Several ways in which microbes affect our lives: infections, diseases, food chain, environment and commercial applications. The first observation by Hooke and van Leeuwenhoek. The cell theory. Compare the theories of spontaneous generation and biogenesis. Pasteurs experiments, aseptic techniques, fermentation and pasteurisation. The Golden Age of Microbiology The germ theory of disease and Kochs postulates. The discovery of vaccination. The birth of modern chemotherapy - dreams of a Magic Bullet. A fortunate accident antibiotics Modern Developments in Microbiology Define bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, virology and microbial genetics. Microbial Diversity The workings of compound light microscope. The study of phylogenetic relationships of prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The three domains of archaebacteria, eubacteria and eukaryotes. The recognition of scientific class, family, genus and species of microorganisms. Study of microbial taxonomy based on morphology, physiology, biochemistry, genetics and immunology. Microscope Units of measurement. Compound light microscopy. Define total magnification and resolution. Other types of microscopes: dark field microscope, phase-contrast microscope, fluorescence microscope, confocal microscope and electron microscope. Preparation of specimens for light microscopy. Oil immersion technique.

Classification of microorganisms The five kingdoms system and the three domains. Scientific nomenclature. The taxonomic hierarchy. A phylogenetic hierarchy. Classification of bacteria under class, family, genus and species.

Methods of Classification and Identifying Microorganisms Morphology characteristics. Differential and special stains: Gram stain, acid-fast stain, negative (capsule) stain, spore stain and flagella stain. Biochemical tests: starch hydrolysis test, coagulase test, oxidase test, citrate test, indole test, catalase test, hydrogen peroxide test and urease test. Serological test and phage typing. Genetics and immunology. Bacterial cell structure and cell wall chemistry Comparing prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The function and arrangement of component in prokaryotic (bacteria) cells. Study the structures external and internal to the cell wall as well as the cell wall. The eukaryotic cell and the organelles. Comparing the prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells Compare and contrast the overall cell structure of prokaryotes and eukaryotes: absence of organelles, circular genetic material (DNA), plasmid vector, binary fission, complex peptidoglycan cell wall and the size, shape and arrangement of bacteria cells. Bacteria cell wall structure and chemistry Composition and characteristics of bacteria cell wall. Compare and contrast the cell walls of grampositive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, archaea and mycoplasmas. Cell walls and the gram stain mechanism. Peptidoglycan layer, teichoic acids, periplasmic space, lipid and lipoprotein content of cell wall. Importance of cell wall chemistry in taxonomy and virulence. Structure external and internal to the bacteria cell wall Describe the structure and function of the glycocalyx, flagella, axial filaments, fimbriae and pili. The structure, chemistry and functions of the plasma membrane. The movement of materials across membrane. Function of cytoplasm, nuclear area, ribosomes, inclusions, metachromatic granules, gas vacuoles and endospores. The eukaryotic cell structure Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell walls, plasma membrane and cytoplasm. Brief introduction to eukaryotic cell organelles: the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, the golgi complex, mitochondria, chloroplasts, lysosomes, vacuoles and centrioles. Microbial growth and metabolism Understand the physical and chemical requirements/factors for microbial growth. Define metabolism, and describe the fundamental differences between anabolism and catabolism. Culture

media for microbial growth. Define bacterial growth curve and the direct measurement of bacterial growth. Culture media Distinguish between chemically defined and complex media. Justify the use of anaerobic techniques, selective media, differential media and enrichment media. Culture techniques, streaking and spreading of plate. Preserving bacteria culture techniques. The requirements for growth Physical requirements: temperature, pH and osmotic pressure. Chemical requirements. The effect of oxygen on aerobes and anaerobes. Microbial growth Bacteria division. Generation time. Bacteria growth curve. Phases of growth. Direct measurement of microbial growth. How to do a plate counts. The most probable number method. Direct microscopic count. Estimating bacterial numbers by indirect methods. Microbial metabolism Define metabolism. Differences between anabolism and catabolism. Identify ATP as the intermediate between catabolism and anabolism. Major microbial metabolic pathways: carbohydrate catabolism, anaerobic respiration, fermentation, lipid catabolism and photosynthesis. Metabolic diversity among organisms: photoautotroph, photoheterotroph, chemoautotroph and chemoheterotroph. Virology Mammalian viruses. Structure, morphology, physiology and classification. Diseases and symptoms caused by virus in human. Mycology Structure, morphology, physiology and classification. Uses and diseases. Parasitology Structure, morphology, physiology and classification. Diseases and symptoms in human caused by parasites. Phycology Structure, morphology, physiology and classification