HTHSCI 2HH3 Lecture : Introduction to Microbiology.docx

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: HTHSCI 2HH3
• Professor: Kirsten Culver

Document Summary

Fimbraie all over: straight filaments arising from bacterial cell wall acilitate formation of biofilms, shorter than flagella not used for propulsion, but can be used to pull the bacterium across a substrate, act as adhesins, binding to specific host cell receptors important role in adherence, a critical step in infection. Clostridium is problematic because they form spores, and spores are resistant to soap, windex, etc. therefore need to sterilize and use chemicals because normal cleaning will only spread the bacteria: requires special environmental controls to kill spores cleaning and disinfecting techniques are not sufficient sterilization required (steam, under pressure, chemical sterilants, etc ) Acid fast stains: most bacteria do not retain the dye carbol fuchsin after treatment with acidic alcohol, mycobacterium species (e. g. mycobacterium tuberculosis) contain a waxy material (mycolic acids) in their cell wall which retains the stain, acid fast stains are used specifically when mycobacterial infections are suspected.