1. What kinds of diseases are caused by bacteria? pneumonia, salmonella, meningitis
2. What is the third highest cause of death in the United States? infectious diseases
3. Can we get rid of all bacteria? Would we want to? no
4. What is a bacterium? single-celled prokaryote
5. How fast can bacteria divide? every 20 minutes
6. What do bacteria do in the digestive tract? process sugars and vitamins
7. What is the most potent poison? botulinum toxin
8. What does botulinum toxin do? paralyzes muscles
9. What new application was made with botulinum toxin? in weak doses, it is used to relax muscles in muscular diseases
10. What gives sourdough its sour flavor? Lactobacillus sanfrancisco
11. What makes the holes in Swiss cheese? bacteria
12. Where does E. coli live? in the intestinal tracts of mammals
13. Where does the deadly strain of E. coli come from? intestinal tracts of cows
14. What bacterial disease swept across Europe in the middle ages? bubonic plague
15. What did Alexander Fleming do? discovered penicillin
16. Did antibiotics destroy bacterial disease? no
17. How do bacteria transfer antibiotic resistance? through plasmid transfer
18. Do antibiotics help colds? no; colds are caused by viruses
19. How are antibiotics used besides in humans? in animals and plants to prevent disease and promote growth
20. When is Vancomycin used? only as a last resort, for multiple-resistant bacteria
21. What bacteria is the most common cause of hospital infections? Staphylococcus aureus
22. What is one of the new multi-resistant bacterial diseases resurfacing? tuberculosis
23. What was used to clean up the cyanide in the White Wood Creek? bacteria (Pseudomonas)
24. What did the bacteria do with the cyanide? used it as food
25. What causes ulcers? bacteria (Helicobacter pylori)
26. How can businesses use bacterial enzymes? paper companies use bacterial whiteners instead of bleach
27. Can all bacteria be cultured in a lab? no
28. How can we appreciate life? looking at pond water