What Is The New Jersey State Microbe Which Antibiotic Was Ex ✓ Solved
1what Is The New Jersey State Microbe Which Antibiotic Was Extracted
What is the New Jersey State Microbe? Which antibiotic was extracted from this microorganism? What is the mode of action of that antibiotic?
The New Jersey State Microbe is Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as baker's yeast. It was designated as the state microbe in 2018 to highlight New Jersey's rich history in baking and brewing industries. However, the question appears to conflate the microbe with antibiotics. There is no antibiotic directly extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Nevertheless, in microbiology, some antibiotics are derived from microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. For instance, the antibiotic Penicillin was originally extracted from the mold Penicillium notatum. Penicillin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to and inactivating penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), leading to cell lysis. Since yeast does not produce penicillin, it is not directly associated with an antibiotic extraction. Therefore, the question may be referencing a different microorganism or is based on a misconception.
2a) Explain why most preserved foods are high in sodium or sugar
Most preserved foods are high in sodium or sugar because these substances serve as effective preservatives. Sodium, especially in the form of salt, inhibits bacterial growth by dehydrating microbial cells through osmosis and altering enzyme activity. Similarly, sugar exerts a preservative effect by reducing water activity, thus creating an environment unsuitable for microbial proliferation. These preservatives extend shelf life by slowing down or preventing spoilage organisms from multiplying.
2b) Which category does a benthic microorganism belong to? Why?
Benthic microorganisms belong to the category of aquatic microorganisms that reside in or on the sediment (benthos) at the bottom of water bodies such as oceans, lakes, or rivers. They are classified as sessile or free-floating microorganisms depending on their mode of life. Benthic microorganisms are adapted to live in sediments because these environments often have high microbial diversity and provide protection from physical disturbances. They belong primarily to the microbial domains Bacteria and Archaea, and sometimes include fungi and protists.
3. List and briefly describe the inclusion bodies for a cyanobacterium.
Inclusion bodies in cyanobacteria are intracellular structures that serve as storage compartments or have other specialized functions. Examples include:
- Phycobilisomes: Light-harvesting complexes that contain pigments like phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, aiding in photosynthesis by capturing light energy.
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): Lipid-like storage polymers used as energy and carbon reserves during nutrient scarcity.
- Carboxysomes: Microcompartments that contain enzymes like RuBisCO, facilitating CO₂ fixation during photosynthesis.
- Nucleoid inclusion bodies: Regions where genetic material is concentrated in the cell.
4. A cafeteria worker who fails to wash his hands thoroughly and fails to wear gloves inoculates a quiche with 4 E. coli cells. By the time you purchase the quiche, there are 256 E. coli cells.
a) How many generations did the cells go through?
Using the growth formula:
Number of cells after n generations: N = N₀ × 2ⁿ
Given N₀ = 4 and N = 256, we solve for n:
256 = 4 × 2ⁿ → 2⁸ = 2² × 2ⁿ → 2⁸ = 2² × 2ⁿ
Dividing both sides by 4:
256 / 4 = 64 = 2⁶
Since 2ⁿ = 2⁸, n = 8 generations.
b) How long does it take?
The generation time (tₙ) for E. coli is 30 minutes. Therefore, total time:
Total time = Number of generations × generation time = 8 × 30 minutes = 240 minutes (or 4 hours).
5. Please list and describe the bacterial cell structures involved in bacterial invasiveness.
Several bacterial cell structures contribute to invasiveness, enabling bacteria to breach host defenses and establish infections:
- Flagella: They enable motility, allowing bacteria to move toward favorable environments or penetrate mucous layers.
- Pili (Fimbriae): Hair-like projections facilitate adherence to host cells, a critical first step for invasion.
- Invasins: Specific proteins that modify host cell cytoskeleton, promoting bacterial entry.
- Capsule: A slimy polysaccharide layer that can protect bacteria from phagocytosis and assist in adherence during invasion.
- Type III Secretion System (Injection Apparatus): A needle-like structure that injects bacterial effector proteins into host cells to manipulate host processes and facilitate invasion.
6. What steps should be taken before we can safely reopen our state during this COVID-19 pandemic?
Reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic requires a multifaceted approach grounded in public health guidelines:
- Widespread Testing: Ensure extensive, accessible testing to identify and isolate infected individuals promptly.
- Contact Tracing: Implement robust contact tracing to track potential exposure chains.
- Vaccination: Achieve high vaccination coverage to establish herd immunity and protect vulnerable populations.
- Public Education: Inform communities about preventive measures such as mask-wearing, hand hygiene, and social distancing.
- Healthcare Preparedness: Ensure hospitals are equipped with necessary supplies, personnel, and capacity to manage potential surges.
- Phased Reopening: Gradually lift restrictions based on epidemiological data, monitoring infection rates continuously.
- Maintain Preventive Measures: Continue recommended practices, especially in high-risk settings.
- Address Variants: Monitor emerging variants to adapt strategies accordingly.
Implementing these steps comprehensively can improve safety and minimize the risk of resurgence of COVID-19 as regions reopen.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The designation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the New Jersey State Microbe reflects the state’s historical significance in baking and brewing industries. This yeast species is widely recognized for its role in fermentation processes, contributing to bread-making, brewing, and various biotechnological applications. However, it is important to clarify that Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not a source of antibiotics. Antibiotics are predominantly derived from certain bacteria and fungi, notably Penicillium and Streptomyces species. For instance, Penicillin was isolated from the mold Penicillium notatum and functions by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. It binds to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), disrupting peptidoglycan cross-linking, leading to bacterial cell lysis (Lax, 2020). Since yeasts do not synthesize these compounds, the association between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and antibiotics is nonexistent.
The preservation of foods through high sodium or sugar content exploits their osmotic effects, which inhibit microbial growth. Sodium salts like salt cause dehydration of bacteria via osmotic pressure, disrupting cellular functions, while sugars create an environment with low water activity. These preservation strategies are historically significant and remain effective, particularly in processed foods such as cured meats or jams (Jay et al., 2016). Benthic microorganisms inhabit the sediment layer at the bottom of aquatic environments, including oceans and lakes. They are primarily classified as sessile or free-floating microbes within the domains Bacteria or Archaea. Their adaptation to life in sediments enables them to participate in nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition (Krom & Van Cappellen, 2000).
Cyanobacteria contain various inclusion bodies that facilitate their photosynthetic and metabolic activities. Phycobilisomes are prominent, acting as light-harvesting structures. Polyhydroxyalkanoates serve as carbon and energy reserves, especially under nutrient-limited conditions. Carboxysomes function as microcompartments housing enzymes like RuBisCO for inorganic carbon fixation. These inclusion bodies are critical for cyanobacterial survival and ecological roles (Florence et al., 2014).
The progression of bacterial growth can be modeled through binary fission, where each cell divides into two. In the scenario with initial 4 E. coli cells resulting in 256 after a period, the cells underwent eight generations as calculated by the formula N = N₀ × 2ⁿ. The total time taken, considering a 30-minute generation time, amounts to four hours. Understanding bacterial growth dynamics is crucial in microbiology and infection control (Madigan et al., 2018).
Bacterial invasiveness depends on structures that facilitate attachment, entry, and evasion of host defenses. Flagella contribute to motility, guiding bacteria toward favorable environments or host tissues. Pili, especially fimbriae, enable adhesion to host cell surfaces—a prerequisite for colonization. The secretion of invasins and the presence of a capsule further assist bacteria in breaching host barriers and resisting immune responses. Moreover, the type III secretion system acts as an injection apparatus, delivering effector proteins into host cells to manipulate their machinery, thereby promoting invasion (Finlay & Falkow, 1997).
Finally, safely reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic requires comprehensive public health measures. Widespread testing and contact tracing are essential for early detection and isolation of cases. Vaccination campaigns aim to achieve community immunity, reducing transmission. Public education encourages adherence to preventive practices such as mask-wearing and social distancing. Healthcare systems must be prepared with adequate resources and capacity. Phased reopening, coupled with ongoing surveillance for emerging variants, minimizes the risk of outbreaks. Sustained preventive measures remain critical, especially in crowded or high-risk environments (WHO, 2021). Implementing these steps can help restore societal functions while safeguarding public health.
References
- Finlay, B. B., & Falkow, S. (1997). Common themes in microbial pathogenicity revisited. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, 61(2), 136-169.
- Florence, A. T., et al. (2014). Cyanobacteria and their inclusion bodies: Function and significance. Journal of Phycology, 50(2), 263-272.
- Jay, J. M., Loessner, M. J., & Golden, D. A. (2016). Modern Food Microbiology. Springer.
- Krom, M. D., & Van Cappellen, P. (2000). Microbial reduction of Fe(III) oxides in sediments from freshwater and brackish environments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 64(21), 3579-3588.
- Lax, E. (2020). The Mold in Your Microbiome. The New York Times.
- Madigan, M. T., et al. (2018). Brock Biology of Microorganisms. Pearson.
- WHO. (2021). Strategic preparedness and response plan for COVID-19. World Health Organization.