Concept explainers
Introduction:
Bacterial cells can be classified as gram-positive or gram-negative, depending upon the ability to retain the stain. The gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan, while the gram-negative bacteria have a thin layer of peptidoglycan cell-wall. The crosslinking of a peptidoglycan in gram-positive bacteria helps it retain the crystal violet stain (
Answer to Problem 1TYK
Correct answer:
Pili keep them attached to the urethral walls.
Explanation of Solution
Explanation/justification for the correct answer:
Option (d) is pili. Pili are the hair-like structures that arise from the cell walls of the bacteria. Pili are mostly present in gram-negative bacteria and help them adhere to a surface like other prokaryotic cells or tissue membranes like the urethral lining in humans. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
Explanation for incorrect answer:
Option (a) is sex pili. The sex pili are extended for conjugation, in which the one bacterium exchanges genetic material with another, under adverse conditions. Sex pili do not help in adherence to the host tissues. So, it is an incorrect option.
Option (b) is flagella. Flagella are hair-like extensions that help in the locomotion of a microbe. The flagella move with the help of motor proteins, allowing the bacteria to move from one location to another. So, it is an incorrect option.
Option (c) is capsule. The capsule is a diffused glycocalyx present in the gram-negative bacteria. It protects the bacteria from antibiotic effects. The peptidoglycan of cell-wall protects the bacteria from adverse environments. So, it is an incorrect option.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the bacterial cells that are present in the urethra are gram-negative as their surface is covered with pili that help them adhere to the urethral walls.
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Chapter 26 Solutions
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
- When microbiologists are working with bacterial batch cultures, we would expect to see no net change in bacterial numbers in ________________ , as this is the stage where the cells of the inoculum are adjusting to their new environment (i.e., the fresh culture medium) and preparing for cell division. stationary phase death phase lag phase log/exponential phasearrow_forwardA clinical microbiologist is studying a microbe that can cause infections and gastrointestinal disease in humans, and which can also survive and reproduce in mice. A dormant cyst form of the microbe infects human hosts through fecal-oral transmission if they come in contact with mouse droppings and don’t wash their hands before eating. The organism grows in long filaments when grown at 20-28 deg C, and forms round/ovoid cells when grown at temperatures above 28 deg C. Sexual reproduction (fusion of haploid gametes) occurs in both humans and mice. A cell wall is present, and cells contain nuclei. This microbe could be which of the following? Bacterium Fungus Virus Protozoanarrow_forwardWhich one of the following statements about the Gram stain is false? A-In the Gram stain, a dye called crystal violet is used to stain the cells purple. B-Gram positive cells end up being stained purple. C-Gram negative cells have thinner peptidoglycan layers than Gram positive bacteria. D-In the Gram stain, alcohol is used to kill the bacteria E-Gram negative cells end up being stained pink or red.arrow_forward
- Diseases that involve biofilm-producing bacteria are of serious concern. They are not as easily treated compared with those involving free-floating (or planktonic) bacteria. Explain three reasons why biofilm formers are more pathogenic. Brian goes to the hospital after not feeling well for a week. He has a fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) and complains of nausea and a constant migraine. Distinguish between the signs and symptoms of disease in Brian’s case.arrow_forwardIf a mutation occurred in Escherichia coli that deleted the gene for adhesion, what effect might it have on the ability of E. coli to cause urinary tract infections?arrow_forwardA farmer working on a piece of machinery gets his shirtsleeve caught in a moving piece of the equipment. His shirt is sliced, and a sharp blade covered in mud slices through his upper arm. He attempts to control the bleeding and immediately seeks medical attention. After 3 days, he develops a fever and his arm becomes extremely swollen and painful. Pulling back the bandages, he finds that the wound has become blackened and is leaking bloody fluid. Microscopic analysis of the fluid reveals the presence of gram-positive bacilli. a. Discuss what condition the patient is suffering from and the likely causative agent of this infection. b. Explain how the patient contracted this pathogenic microbe and what virulence factors contributed to the pathogenesis seen at the wound site. c. In addition to antibiotics, the physician prescribes hyperbaric therapy. Describe what this treatment involves and how it could be therapeutic to this patient.arrow_forward
- In the diagram below, identify the structures of a cyanobacterial cell based on the following descriptions: a) Outer cellular covering which includes: Mucilaginous layer – outermost layer covering the cell wall; protects the cell from harmful factors of the environment Cell wall – found just below the mucilaginous layer; 2 or 3-layered, the inner layer lies in between the outer wall layer and plasma membrane; the outer layer is made of peptidoglycan Innermost plasma membrane – selectively permeable membrane enclosing the cytoplasm b) Cytoplasm – found below the plasma membrane; the protoplasm which contains structures of different shapes and functions. Lamellae, which contain pigments such as chlorophylls, carotenes, xanthophylls, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, are located in the peripheral region of cytoplasm. Ribosomes may also be found scattered in the cytoplasm. c) Nucleic material – the nucleoplasm that is centrally located in the cell and contains chromatin in the form…arrow_forwardif a mutation occured in Escherichia Coli that deleted the gene for adhesion, what effect might it have on the ability of E. Coli to cause urinary tract infections?arrow_forwardWhich of the following statement/s is/are true about gram negative bacteria Cell wall has thin peptidoglycan layer Cell wall lipid content is very low Lipopolyscharride layer is present All of the abovearrow_forward
- Mycoplasmas are bacteria that lack cell walls. On the basis of this structural feature, which statement concerning mycoplasmas should be true? They are gram-negative. They are subject to lysis in hypotonic conditions. They lack a cell membrane as well. They should contain less cellulose than do bacteria that possess cell walls. They possess typical prokaryotic flagella.arrow_forwardWhich of the following is not true about a gram-positive cell wall? It has plasma membrane inside cell wall It contains lipopolysaccharides (LPS) It maintains the shape of the cell It contains teichoic acidsarrow_forwardThe presence of endotoxins in a sterile fluid indicates: the presence of gram-positive cell walls the presence of gram-negative cell walls gram-negative cells are growing gram-positive cells are growingarrow_forward
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning