All living organisms on Earth are divided into cells. The main concept of cell theory is that cells are the basic structural unit for all organisms. Cells are small compartments that hold the biological equipment necessary to keep an organism alive and successful. Living things may be single-celled or they may be very complex such as a human being. There are smaller…
You’re probably the member of a club you didn’t even know existed. According to research published this week, we all have one of three ecosystems of bugs in our guts. New Scientist explores what this surprising discovery means, and how our internal fauna might affect our everyday lives. Why might the types of bugs we carry be important? We think of our bodies as our…
Background: Y14 is an RNA binding protein which is part of a multiprotein complex, the exon-exon junction complex (EJC), that assembles on the exon-exon junctions of mRNAs produced by splicing. The position-specific binding of Y14 persists on mRNAs after their export to the cytoplasm. Thus, Y14, together with its interacting proteins, has the capacity to communicate…
Toxin production by pathogenic microorganisms likely serves to (i) protect against phagocytosis by predatory cells, (ii) aid in penetrating tissue barriers, () promote nutrient release, or (iv) alter cellular architecture and metabolism in ways that facilitate the establishment of a niche for colonization and replication. Useful enzymatic targets for some bacterial…
Bacteria can be found virtually everywhere. They are in the air, the soil, and water, and in and on plants and animals, including us. A single teaspoon of topsoil contains about a billion bacterial cells (and about 120, fungal cells and some 25, algal cells). The human mouth is home to more than 500 species of bacteria. Some bacteria (along with archaea) thrive…
Comparative genomics is a rapidly developing field. Europe has been at the forefront of eukaryotic microbial genome sequencing and the analysis and comparison of these genomes. The first eukaryote sequenced, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , laid the foundation for the post-genomic era where we are dealing with this wealth of information. Many of the organisms…
This leaflet gives a brief overview of the different types of germs (microbes) that can cause infections and a brief overview of the use of antibiotic medication. What are microbes? Healthcare professionals classify germs (microbes) into different groups. The most common groups of microbes that cause illness are described below. Bacteria There are many different…
In the dark, oxygen-free zone of your large intestine there is a community of microbes that help you digest food, fight off harmful pathogens, and which may even affect your mood and emotions. Now, a new study suggests that this intimate relationship between our microbes and ourselves is older than the human species itself. In a paper published Thursday in Science…
There are two ways cells can get hold of the cholesterol needed for the membranes, by using food sources containing low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or by synthesising it within the cell. Defects in the cholesterol synthesis pathway can increase the likelihood of the cell breaking down through apoptosis or due to oxidative stress. Around 20-25% of the cell membrane…
Prokaryotic cells are one of the most basic kinds of cells that are out there in Biology. They are the cells of bacteria, so let s take a look at what makes up the key characteristics of a prokaryote. Now their name tells you one of their most important things; pro means before kary means nucleus, so this tells you that this is what cells that evolved before the nucleus…
There are too many microorganisms to remember therefore they need to be separated into groups with similar features. Microbiologists use a number of terms to describe the different appearances of bacteria; Gram-positive or Gram-negative, coccus or bacillus etc. For example, the Microbiologist might telephone with a result, saying “the cause is a Gram-negative bacillus…
Microorganisms are similar to more complex organisms in that they need a variety of materials from their environment to function and accomplish two primary goals-supply enough energy to manage their processes and extract building blocks to repair themselves or procreate. In addition to what they take in, microorganisms also thrive in particular environments. These…
Top It is the most common mode of asexual reproduction. The cytoplasm and nucleoid of a bacterial cell divide equally into two, following replication of DNA. The cell wall and cytoplasm also split resulting in the formation of two daughter cells. Under favourable conditions, a bacterial cell divides by fission once in every 20 minutes. fig. 8.4 - Fission in Bacteria…
Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Viral illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics. When an antibiotic is not prescribed, ask your healthcare professional for tips on how to relieve symptoms and feel better. Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer Common Condition: What’s got you sick? Common Cause Are antibiotics needed? Bacteria Bacteria or Virus Virus…
