Concept explainers
Unpleasant breath odors are caused mainly by prokaryotes that live in the mouth. The warm, moist human mouth cavity hosts a diverse microbial community that includes more than 2,000 prokaryote species. Many of these species acquire energy and nutrients by breaking down mucus, food particles, and dead cells.
The by-products of this breakdown can include foul-smelling gases, some of which are also emitted by feces or decaying bodies.
The highest concentration of bad-breath prokaryotes is found at the base of the tongue. This location may be especially hospitable to microbes owing to the accumulation of mucus that drains down into the back of the throat from the nose. So, if you gargle with antiseptic mouthwash to control bad breath, thrust your tongue forward so the mouthwash can reach the base of your tongue.
What Causes Bad Breath?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 20 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
- There are various environmental factors that can influence microbial growth and reactions. These factors play a role which will determine if a microbe can function in a given environment. What are 2 environmental factors believed to be the most important out of the others ?arrow_forwardProvide an example of an organism within each of the four main nutritional categories of microbes and describe how each obtains its essential nutrients. Provide evidence in support of or refuting the following statement: Microbial life can exist in the complete absence of both sunlight or organic nutrients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a technology that requires high temperatures to reproduce DNA fragments. Explain why the discovery of thermophilic archaea and their associated DNA polymerases was critical to the success of this technique. Summarize how the electron transport chain functions to produce ATP in a bacterial cell versus eukaryotic cell. Explain whether or not the term chemiosmosis accurately illustrates this process.arrow_forwardbased on the article What happens to the microbial environment as cheeses like Gouda, Cheddar, or Parmesan are aged? I need help finding the answer in the articlearrow_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 biofilms can be more pathogenic.arrow_forwardBacterial growth depends on many environmental factors, including the temperature of the environment. Since microbes can survive in a certain range of temperatures and will thrive at a temperature, understanding these variables allows for control of their growth. This understanding can be used, for example, to preserve certain foods or to treat infections. This lab simulation will use an instrument called a spectrophotometer. This instrument quantitatively measures the amount of light that is absorbed or transmitted by molecules in solution. Microbial populations grow at different rates based on temperature. One way to measure growth is by turbidity measurements. When bacteria multiply in a broth culture they turn the clear solution cloudy, or turbid. a) in your own words explain the proper steps to Inoculate 5°C sterile broth tube using aseptic techniquearrow_forwardFlasks A and B contain broth, and are inoculated with an identical number of bacteria that are facultative anaerobes. Flask A contains a triglyceride lipid as the sole nutrient source, and Flask B contains a monosaccharide called fructose as the sole nutrient source. Both flasks are incubated at 30°C with aeration (oxygen is added to the broth). Assume the bacteria are capable of catabolism of both fructose and triglycerides. Mark all the correct statements pertaining to these cultures. A. Under anaerobic conditions, cells in flask A will produce more ATP B. Cells from flask B will produce more carbon dioxide C. Cells from flask B will produce more ATP D. Flask A will have the greater cell mass E. Cells from flask A will produce more ATP F. Cells from flask A will produce more carbon dioxide G. Flask B will have the greater cell mass H. Under anaerobic conditions, cells in flask B will produce more ATParrow_forward
- For Mycobacterium tuberculosis In this part, you will describe how the microbe interacts with other organisms and/or the non-living environment. Choose the most pertinent interactions for your microbe. For example, if your microbe is a human pathogen, focus on the interaction with human cells and the immune system. If your microbe is a nitrogen-fixer, focus on the interaction with other organisms via the nitrogen cycle. aim for including at least 5 key points regarding the interactions and describe those points in detail please write a new heading for each of your key points so that it's clear to me what the 5 points arearrow_forwardOxygen is always beneficial to micro-organisms. Discuss this statement in the context of factors that influence microbial growth.arrow_forwardMicroorganisms are involved in each of the following processes EXCEPT infection fog production decomposition of organic materials O food production oxygen productionarrow_forward
- The statements are given below, which will best describe why antimicrobial drugs that affect cell wall synthesis tend to have selective toxicity when used by humans? Human cells only synthesize peptidoglycan as a food source Cell wall synthesis is a common metabolic process in humans and bacteria. Most bacteria only synthesize cell walls during their log phase of growth. Human cells do not have cell walls.arrow_forwardDiscuss the possibility of life on Mars. In reference to extremophiles. Defend or refute this statement: The upper-temperature limit to life is unrelated to the stability of proteins or nucleic acids. How influential is microbial activity on the geological processes of mineral formation and deposition compared to biological processes? (argue both sides of this one). What challenges and advantages do you see with the use of extremeophiles in industrial or bioremediation applications?arrow_forwardThe presence of a fuel molecule in the cytoplasm does not ensure that the fuel molecule can be effectively used. Give two examples of how impaired transport of metabolites between compartments leads to disease.arrow_forward
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSONBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxAnatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
- Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyLaboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education