VBS 2032: Exam Questions and Correct Answers
What does the term “ubiquity” mean?
Found everywhere
- microbiology meaning: MICROBES can be found everywhere and are a part of most (if not all)
life forms on earth
-- normal microbiota on hands
-- enteric bacteria that break down nutrients
What are some surprising places microbes are found?
- Oceans
- Vegetables
- Inside of other living things
- In extreme temperatures
- At the bottom of the ocean
- In the roots of plants (here they help fix nitrogen)
How can microbes travel?
flagella, cilia, gliding, fimbrae, slime coats, and magnetic forces
We do not yet know the extent of microbial diversity. Why not?
Some microbes live in places we can't get to. All microbes are microscopic, so isolating them in
order to learn about them is difficult. The diversity is so significant that it is not feasible to find
and study every single microbe.
,- not all microbes are able to be cultured because we don't have the right environment conditions
for them
*hard to recreate optimal growing environments in a lab. We do not know the growing
requirements of some.
What are three ways in which microbial activity is essential for life on this planet?
1. Oxygen creation: algae create more oxygen than trees
2. Nitrogen fixation: process where microbes take atmospheric nitrogen and reduce it to make
ammonia
- nitrogenous bases are part of the genetic code -- certain bacteria are responsible for fixing N2
into NH3 (ammonia)
3. Recycling: without fungi and other saprophytes (a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives
on dead or decaying organic matter) -- dead plant and animal matter would encase the planet
*(microbes are essential for life as we know it)
Where are several places microbial biofilms can be found in daily life?
- Teeth (in plaque)
- Showers
- Slimy slipper rocks
- Cathether
What are two ways microbes have changed that impact healthcare?
,1. Antibiotic resistant microbes
2. pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes
Most microbes are not harmful. What are some reasons for this?
Most have characteristics that are different to ours, some can benefit human hosts, some don't
have the same virulence factors.
- Others are not parasitic at all, so they have no need to be infectious.
- Many have a symbiotic relationship with other animals, in which case killing the symbiont
would be selected against through evolution.
Your friend recently ate a salad containing a brand of spinach that was recalled for
contamination with E. coli. Can you explain to her the factors that will influence whether
or not she becomes ill?
The number of microbes, virulence of microbes, and the host immunity (strength of immune
system) (something that may be very dangerous to someone else may not be dangerous to you)
are three factors that will influence whether or not she becomes ill.
*(number of microbes x virulence of microbe) / host immunity
What are some ways that the Chain of Infection can be broken?
1. Isolate and treat the patient
2. Wash hands
3. Disinfect surfaces/ using proper PPE when handling infectious surfaces
4. Vaccinate
What is the “indoor microbiome?”
, Microbiomes that exist indoors where we live and spend most of our time.
- The billions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that we share our homes and offices with.
- What is the “Hygiene Hypothesis”?
- How might dogs (and other animals) positively impact our health?
Hygiene Hypothesis: lack of exposure to microbes can lead to allergies & autoimmune diseases
- spending over 90 percent of our time in the bacteria-poor environment indoors, as we do
(especially early in life, when our immune systems are being formed), can cause our bodies to
overreact to harmless substances later on, making us sick. Or have allergies or asthma
- lack of exposure to pathogens can lead to higher susceptibility
- Dogs can bring in 56 different bacteria classes into the home from outside that otherwise
wouldn't of entered
*The "outside" microbes can help us grow our immune systems
Why are pig whipworm eggs being considered for approval as a food ingredient in
Germany?
- People in developing countries don't usually have allergies or asthma
- Calms your immune system (the immune system is ATTACKING the body that it is meant to
protect ex. allergies and asthma)
-- worms calm down these cells, eat, and treat allergic conditions
- In the past -- parasites were often and commonly found in the digestive system, and as hygiene
What does the term “ubiquity” mean?
Found everywhere
- microbiology meaning: MICROBES can be found everywhere and are a part of most (if not all)
life forms on earth
-- normal microbiota on hands
-- enteric bacteria that break down nutrients
What are some surprising places microbes are found?
- Oceans
- Vegetables
- Inside of other living things
- In extreme temperatures
- At the bottom of the ocean
- In the roots of plants (here they help fix nitrogen)
How can microbes travel?
flagella, cilia, gliding, fimbrae, slime coats, and magnetic forces
We do not yet know the extent of microbial diversity. Why not?
Some microbes live in places we can't get to. All microbes are microscopic, so isolating them in
order to learn about them is difficult. The diversity is so significant that it is not feasible to find
and study every single microbe.
,- not all microbes are able to be cultured because we don't have the right environment conditions
for them
*hard to recreate optimal growing environments in a lab. We do not know the growing
requirements of some.
What are three ways in which microbial activity is essential for life on this planet?
1. Oxygen creation: algae create more oxygen than trees
2. Nitrogen fixation: process where microbes take atmospheric nitrogen and reduce it to make
ammonia
- nitrogenous bases are part of the genetic code -- certain bacteria are responsible for fixing N2
into NH3 (ammonia)
3. Recycling: without fungi and other saprophytes (a plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives
on dead or decaying organic matter) -- dead plant and animal matter would encase the planet
*(microbes are essential for life as we know it)
Where are several places microbial biofilms can be found in daily life?
- Teeth (in plaque)
- Showers
- Slimy slipper rocks
- Cathether
What are two ways microbes have changed that impact healthcare?
,1. Antibiotic resistant microbes
2. pathogenic (disease-causing) microbes
Most microbes are not harmful. What are some reasons for this?
Most have characteristics that are different to ours, some can benefit human hosts, some don't
have the same virulence factors.
- Others are not parasitic at all, so they have no need to be infectious.
- Many have a symbiotic relationship with other animals, in which case killing the symbiont
would be selected against through evolution.
Your friend recently ate a salad containing a brand of spinach that was recalled for
contamination with E. coli. Can you explain to her the factors that will influence whether
or not she becomes ill?
The number of microbes, virulence of microbes, and the host immunity (strength of immune
system) (something that may be very dangerous to someone else may not be dangerous to you)
are three factors that will influence whether or not she becomes ill.
*(number of microbes x virulence of microbe) / host immunity
What are some ways that the Chain of Infection can be broken?
1. Isolate and treat the patient
2. Wash hands
3. Disinfect surfaces/ using proper PPE when handling infectious surfaces
4. Vaccinate
What is the “indoor microbiome?”
, Microbiomes that exist indoors where we live and spend most of our time.
- The billions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that we share our homes and offices with.
- What is the “Hygiene Hypothesis”?
- How might dogs (and other animals) positively impact our health?
Hygiene Hypothesis: lack of exposure to microbes can lead to allergies & autoimmune diseases
- spending over 90 percent of our time in the bacteria-poor environment indoors, as we do
(especially early in life, when our immune systems are being formed), can cause our bodies to
overreact to harmless substances later on, making us sick. Or have allergies or asthma
- lack of exposure to pathogens can lead to higher susceptibility
- Dogs can bring in 56 different bacteria classes into the home from outside that otherwise
wouldn't of entered
*The "outside" microbes can help us grow our immune systems
Why are pig whipworm eggs being considered for approval as a food ingredient in
Germany?
- People in developing countries don't usually have allergies or asthma
- Calms your immune system (the immune system is ATTACKING the body that it is meant to
protect ex. allergies and asthma)
-- worms calm down these cells, eat, and treat allergic conditions
- In the past -- parasites were often and commonly found in the digestive system, and as hygiene
