PRACTICE QUESTIONS PARASITOLOGY
Introduction Parsitoloyn
1. What are parasites?
Eukaryote organisms that have to live in or on other organisms (hosts) to complete their
natural lifecycle
2. What are the three tnpes of snmbiosis, and explain them shortln
Parasitism (parasite benefts, host is harmed), Mutualism (both host and parasite beneft),
Commensalism (parasite benefts, host is not harmed)
3. When is the beneft uni-directional?
If only the parasite benefts, and the host does not.
4. What is the diference between a facultatiie parasite and an obliyate parasite?
Facultative: the parasite may exist in a free living state, while an obligate parasite cannot
survive without it’s host.
5. What are the tnpes of endoparasites, and what is the diference?
Protozoan are unicellular: Rhizopods, ciliates, fagellates and sporozoans
Metazoan are multicellular and also called helminths: Trematodes (fuke), Nematode
(roundworm) and Cestodes (tapeworm)
6. What is a direct lifecncle and what is an indirect lifecncle?
In a direct lifecycle the parasite only needs one host to complete, in an indirect lifecycle the
parasite needs two or more hosts to complete its life cycle.
1
, Metabolism of parasites part I and II
1. Whn do cells need metabolism?
For energy (ATP), building cells, detoxifcation and reproduction
2. In what part of metabolism is the focus for parasites?
On the production of ATP, building blocks can be acquired from the host.
3. Whn studn metabolism in parasites?
The metabolism of parasites can be studied to understand the parasite, which organisms
have a mitochondrion, what is the division between aerobe and anaerobe, to understand
eukaryotic evolution and it can be used as a drug target.
Also applied in real life: H2 as a fuel.
4. What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that cannot fx carbon and use organic carbon (from outside) for growth.
5. What kind of phosphornlation are there and what is the diference?
Substrate level phosphorylatoon direct phosphorylation of ADP with a phosphate and energy
provided from a coupled reaction.
Oxidatve phosphorylatoon ATP is generated from the oxidation of NADH and FADH2 and the
subsequent transfer of electrons and pumping of protons. That process generates an
electrochemical gradient, which is required to power the ATP synthase.
6. How to yenerate ATP in metabolism?
By phosphorylation, either with electrons involved or not. ATP is generated from the
oxidation of NADH and FADH2 and the subsequent transfer of electrons and pumping of
protons. That process generates an electrochemical gradient, which is required to power the
ATP synthase.
7. What is oxidation and what is reduction?
Oxidation: loss of electrons (verliezen van electrons) LEO→ loss of electrons
Reduction: gain of electrons (winnen van electrons) (bij het hoofdelement) GER→ gain of
electrons
8. What is ylncolnsis?
The breakdown of a glucose molecule into 2 molecules of pyruvate. 2 ATP are needed to
start and 4 ATP molecules are generated. So there is a net ATP generation of 2 ATP.
Glycolysis is a form of substrate level phophorylation.
9. What is NAD?
A co-enzyme that is involved in electron transfer reactions, the oxidised form is NAD+, the
reduced form is NADH.
10. What is the diference between respiration and fermentation?
The terminal electron acceptor comes from the environment (respiration) or the fnal
electron acceptor is generated by the organism during metabolism.
11. What are the fates of pnruiate?
Further oxidation, reduction to lactate and/or excretion.
(Acetyl COA → tca cycle, CO2 and H2O, losing electrons of pyruvate(oxidation)).
12. What can nou tell about hndroyenosomes?
They use fermentation with hydrogen as the electron acceptor and substrate level
phosphorylation for their metabolism.
13. What are the similarities between text book mitochondria and hndroyenosomes?
2
Introduction Parsitoloyn
1. What are parasites?
Eukaryote organisms that have to live in or on other organisms (hosts) to complete their
natural lifecycle
2. What are the three tnpes of snmbiosis, and explain them shortln
Parasitism (parasite benefts, host is harmed), Mutualism (both host and parasite beneft),
Commensalism (parasite benefts, host is not harmed)
3. When is the beneft uni-directional?
If only the parasite benefts, and the host does not.
4. What is the diference between a facultatiie parasite and an obliyate parasite?
Facultative: the parasite may exist in a free living state, while an obligate parasite cannot
survive without it’s host.
5. What are the tnpes of endoparasites, and what is the diference?
Protozoan are unicellular: Rhizopods, ciliates, fagellates and sporozoans
Metazoan are multicellular and also called helminths: Trematodes (fuke), Nematode
(roundworm) and Cestodes (tapeworm)
6. What is a direct lifecncle and what is an indirect lifecncle?
In a direct lifecycle the parasite only needs one host to complete, in an indirect lifecycle the
parasite needs two or more hosts to complete its life cycle.
1
, Metabolism of parasites part I and II
1. Whn do cells need metabolism?
For energy (ATP), building cells, detoxifcation and reproduction
2. In what part of metabolism is the focus for parasites?
On the production of ATP, building blocks can be acquired from the host.
3. Whn studn metabolism in parasites?
The metabolism of parasites can be studied to understand the parasite, which organisms
have a mitochondrion, what is the division between aerobe and anaerobe, to understand
eukaryotic evolution and it can be used as a drug target.
Also applied in real life: H2 as a fuel.
4. What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that cannot fx carbon and use organic carbon (from outside) for growth.
5. What kind of phosphornlation are there and what is the diference?
Substrate level phosphorylatoon direct phosphorylation of ADP with a phosphate and energy
provided from a coupled reaction.
Oxidatve phosphorylatoon ATP is generated from the oxidation of NADH and FADH2 and the
subsequent transfer of electrons and pumping of protons. That process generates an
electrochemical gradient, which is required to power the ATP synthase.
6. How to yenerate ATP in metabolism?
By phosphorylation, either with electrons involved or not. ATP is generated from the
oxidation of NADH and FADH2 and the subsequent transfer of electrons and pumping of
protons. That process generates an electrochemical gradient, which is required to power the
ATP synthase.
7. What is oxidation and what is reduction?
Oxidation: loss of electrons (verliezen van electrons) LEO→ loss of electrons
Reduction: gain of electrons (winnen van electrons) (bij het hoofdelement) GER→ gain of
electrons
8. What is ylncolnsis?
The breakdown of a glucose molecule into 2 molecules of pyruvate. 2 ATP are needed to
start and 4 ATP molecules are generated. So there is a net ATP generation of 2 ATP.
Glycolysis is a form of substrate level phophorylation.
9. What is NAD?
A co-enzyme that is involved in electron transfer reactions, the oxidised form is NAD+, the
reduced form is NADH.
10. What is the diference between respiration and fermentation?
The terminal electron acceptor comes from the environment (respiration) or the fnal
electron acceptor is generated by the organism during metabolism.
11. What are the fates of pnruiate?
Further oxidation, reduction to lactate and/or excretion.
(Acetyl COA → tca cycle, CO2 and H2O, losing electrons of pyruvate(oxidation)).
12. What can nou tell about hndroyenosomes?
They use fermentation with hydrogen as the electron acceptor and substrate level
phosphorylation for their metabolism.
13. What are the similarities between text book mitochondria and hndroyenosomes?
2
