1. Microbe Mission B/C NC Science Olympiad DISCLAIMER
This presentation was prepared using draft rules.  There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules.  The rules which will be in your Coaches Manual and Student Manuals will be the official rules.

2. MICROBES…
Microbe  short for microorganism (small organism that can only be observed with a microscope)
Over 99% of microbes contribute to the quality of human life
A small minority cause disease in humans by sheer numbers or producing powerful toxins
The major groups of microbes are
bacteria
Archaea
algae
fungi
protozoa
viruses
In terms of numbers, microbes represent most of the diversity of life on Earth and are found in every environment.
Really quickly, let’s define what a microbe is…

3. Which of the following topics will be covered in this year’s event?
A. Major Groups of Microbes B. Microbes and Ecology C. Microbes and Industry D. Microbes and Food E. Microbes and Disease

4. Which of the following topics will be covered in this year’s event?
A. Major Groups of Microbes B. Microbes and Ecology C. Microbes and Industry D. Microbes and Food E. Microbes and Disease
This was a trick question as ALL of these topics will be under investigation in this year’s event! Whew that’s a lot!
A quick review:
Microbes and Ecology: Major producers in aquatic environments. Decomposers – bacteria and fungi – in many ecosystems. Key role in Biogeochemical cycles to recycle carbon, nitrogen, carbon, water. Natural pest killers in gardens and on crops. Breakdown oil from oil spills. Serve as natural water treatment. Can cause some ecological problems as red tide and algal blooms
Wastewater Microbiology (Industry): Microbes play a key role in water and waste treatment facilities. Are involved in natural waterways. Involved in maintaining septic tanks. Coliform bacteria as E. coli can contaminate water making it unsafe.
Microbes and Industry: Microbes (fungi and bacteria) are used to make antibiotics. Algae are being used to make petroleum. Yeast and bacteria are used in producing medicines.
Microbes and Food: Milk into yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, cheese. Aid in production of chocolate, bread products, wine, beer, tea. Pickling process to make pickles from cucumbers and sauerkraut from cabbage.
Food spoilage and food decomposition: Microbes play a key role – bacteria and fungi – in food spoilage and decomposition. Many types can live at low temperatures as mold on food in the refrigerator. Food preservation techniques as salt and high acid affect microbes.
Microbes and Diseases: There are many agents of infectious diseases. Microbes acting as agents are prions, viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasitic worms. Check the SO National website for the final 2017 list of diseases.

5. What is each team allowed to bring with them to the event?
One 3-ring binder (any size) of notes
One 8 ½ x 11” sheet of notes (double sided)
Two non-graphing/non-programmable calculators
A and C
B and C

6. What is each team allowed to bring with them to the event?
One 3-ring binder (any size) of notes
One 8 ½ x 11” sheet of notes (double sided)
Two non-graphing/non-programmable calculators
A and C
B and C
A team may consist of one OR two students. Students without calculators are at a disadvantage (will need more time for some calculations). ONE SHEET OF NOTES PER TEAM! Information may be in any form from any sources. Phones may NOT be used as calculators.

7. What is each team required to bring with them to the event?
Writing instrument
Safety goggles
Both A and B

8. What is each team required to bring with them to the event?
Writing instrument
Safety goggles
Both A and B
This event is typically done as a lab practical in stations. It is also possible to be done as a sit down test, though this is not as common. Regardless, safety equipment IS required to participate in this event.

9. What EXACTLY do my students need to know for this event?
Well, since you asked…

10. What type of microscope provided the image below?
Sample question
Light Microscope
Transmission Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope
Auto-phosphorylating Microscope

11. What type of microscope provided the image below?
Light Microscope
Transmission Electron Microscope
Scanning Electron Microscope
Auto-phosphorylating Microscope

12. Principles of Microscopy
KNOW: Types of Microscopes – their uses, advantages and disadvantages
KNOW: Parts of a Light Microscope and their function
BE ABLE TO: Properly use a microscope to view a slide
BE ABLE TO: determine total magnification and field of view
BE ABLE TO: Estimate/calculate the size of a microbe based on scales in pictures or microscopic information and amount of the visual field occupied
EXAMPLE QUESTION: A cell is observed through a light microscope at 4x magnification. The cell takes up about half of the visual field. What is the approximate length of this organism?
Students will have to know the part of the microscope, how it works, and be able to identify the size of a microbe based on the scale (either from a slide, picture, or description). Students will NOT have to make slides.

13. Which of the following is NOT a major group of microbes?
Prions
Ursa
Algae
Fungi
Ursa is a bear ;)

14. Which of the following is NOT a major group of microbes?
Prions
Ursa
Algae
Fungi

15. MAJOR GROUPS OF MICROBES
Prions
Viruses
Archaea
Bacteria
Algae
Protozoa
Fungi
Parasitic Worms
Your students need to know all of the major groups of microbes and distinguishing characteristics (e.g. size, environment, structure, prokaryote vs. eukaryote, etc.) of those groups. Students should know how to use a dichotomous key.
Sample test questions:
Provide two difference among bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Using the dichotomous key provided, which cell, A, B, or C is considered an alga.

16. Acellular microbes have the ability to metabolize organic materials.
True
False

17. Acellular microbes have the ability to metabolize organic materials.
True
False
See next slide for reason

18. Cellular vs. Acellular Acellular –
Viruses do not have cellular components, nor do they grow or metabolize organic materials. They generally consist of a piece of nucleic acid encased in protein which must use the cellular components of a living cell to reproduce.
Prions (proteinaceous infectious particles) are infectious agents composed primarily of protein which induce the existing polypeptides in host cells to take on its form.
Cellular – bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic cells while algae, fungi, and protozoa have eukaryotic cells.

19. Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic – single cell with nuclear material but no nuclear membrane or membrane bound organelles
Eukaryotic – most cells – with organized nucleus and membrane bound organelles

20. Which of the following organelles are believed to have originated as prokaryotic cells?
Mitochondrion
Chloroplasts
Golgi Apparatus
Both A and B
Both B and C

21. Which of the following organelles are believed to have originated as prokaryotic cells?
Mitochondrion
Chloroplasts
Golgi Apparatus
Both A and B
Both B and C

22. Organelles of Microbial Origin
Mitochondria – have DNA similar to that of a Prokaryotic cell and can reproduce independent of the rest of the Eukaryotic cell.
Chloroplasts – also have DNA similar to that of a Prokaryotic cell and can reproduce independent of the rest of the Eukaryotic cell.
It is believed that both chloroplasts and mitochondria were once independent Prokaryotes who took up residence in the Eukaryotic cell and have developed a special symbiotic relationship

23. What is the size range for eukaryotic cells?
10-10m to 10-9m
10-8m to 10-7m
10-6m to 10-5m
10-4m to 10-3m

24. What is the size range for eukaryotic cells?
10-10m to 10-9m
10-8m to 10-7m
10-6m to 10-5m
10-4m to 10-3m

25. RELATIVE SIZE OF MICROBES
Students should have an understanding of size and scale for each group of microbes.

26. Which phase of the microbial growth curve is characterized by having the same number of cells dying as dividing?
Lag Phase
Log or Exponential Phase
Stationary Phase
Death
Logarithmic Decline Phase

27. Which phase of the microbial growth curve is characterized by having the same number of cells dying as dividing?
Lag Phase
Log or Exponential Phase
Stationary Phase
Death
Logarithmic Decline Phase

28. MICROBIAL GROWTH CURVE
Growth curves are NOT the only types of graphs your students could see in this event. They need to be capable of reading, interpreting, and extrapolating data from graph’s PERIOD!
B- tend to need to interpret a graph (Labeled graph: Based on the graph, explain what the Stationary phase of microbial growth is.)
C- may need to fill in missing pieces of a graph! (non-labeled graph: Identify and describe the Stationary stage of microbial growth)

29. Which of the following is NOT a bacterial shape?
Division C ONLY!!!
Cocci
Bacilli
Spirochete
Spirilla
Vibrum

30. Which of the following is NOT a bacterial shape?
Division C ONLY!!!
Cocci
Bacilli
Spirochete
Spirilla
Vibrum

31. Division C ONLY!!!
Students may need to identify a type of bacteria based on the shape OR describe the shape of a given bacteria.
(picture of coccus) What morphology of bacteria is this? OR What shape is Coccus?

32. When applying Gram Stain, Gram (+) bacteria will stain red.
Division C ONLY!!!
When applying Gram Stain, Gram (+) bacteria will stain red.
True
False

33. When applying Gram Stain, Gram (+) bacteria will stain red.
Division C ONLY!!!
When applying Gram Stain, Gram (+) bacteria will stain red.
True
False

34. GRAM + VS. GRAM – BACTERIA
Division C ONLY!!!
Gram positive bacteria
stain purple under Gram stain
have a thick bilayer wall of the polymer peptidoglycan.
Gram negative bacteria
stain red
have a thin layer of this polymer and an additional lipopolysaccharide outer layer, LPS,
often endotoxic - capable of initiating inflammation and cell-mediated immune responses
e.g., Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia.
Students should know the difference between gram stain positive and negative in what it looks like and the morphology. They may need to know examples for both as well.

35. Which of the following statements are true for animal-like protists (protozoa)?
Protozoans hunt other microbes for food.
Protozoan digestion occurs in digestive organelles.
Certain protozoa can cause dysentery and malaria.
All of the above statements are true regarding protozoans.

36. Which of the following statements are true for animal-like protists (protozoa)?
Protozoans hunt other microbes for food.
Protozoan digestion occurs in digestive organelles.
Certain protozoa can cause dysentery and malaria.
All of the above statements are true regarding protozoans.

37. One teaspoon of topsoil contains approximately ______ fungi.
1,200
12,000
120, 000
1, 200,00

38. One teaspoon of topsoil contains approximately ______ fungi.
1,200
12,000
120, 000
1, 200,00

39. Fungi Cellular level, more like animals than plants – Eukaryotic
Can’t synthesize their own food
Single celled as yeast or multicellular clusters as molds & mushrooms
Multicellular ones form filament like strands – hyphae
Grow best in slightly acidic environment – can grow in low moisture
Live in soil, on plants & animals, in fresh & salt water
One teaspoon of topsoil has about 120,000 fungi
Baker’s yeast for bread and brewing, some are used for antibiotics, others serve as decomposers
Some cause disease in humans, animals and plants – ruin ¼ to ½ of fruits & vegetables per year

40. Based on the color of the colony, how many different kinds of organisms do you detect?3 4 5 6
Students will be provided with pictures- not actual growth plates.

41. Based on the color of the colony, how many different kinds of organisms do you detect?3 4 5 6
Pink (or mauve)
Light Yellow (or beige)
Dark Blue
Light Blue
Red/Orange
Follow up question: Which type of organism appears to be the most prevalent?

42. Which of the following is an incorrect pairing of microbe with the disease it can cause?
Virus/Tetanus
Prion/Kuru
Fungus/Dutch Elm Disease
Protozoan/Malaria

43. Which of the following is an incorrect pairing of microbe with the disease it can cause?
Virus/Tetanus
Prion/Kuru
Fungus/Dutch Elm Disease
Protozoan/Malaria
Tetanus is caused by Clostridium bacteria.
Your students are responsible for knowing diseases caused by different kind of microbes and the treatment/prevention of these diseases.

44. VIRAL DISEASES AIDS Chicken Pox & Shingles Common Cold Dengue Fever
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever
Hepatitis
Influenza
Measles
Mumps
Mononucleosis
Polio
Rabies
Rubella
Small pox
West Nile Fever
Yellow Fever
Q: What will I have to know about these diseases?
A: Know the names and types of diseases that can be a virus/bacteria/fungus/protozoa/prion as well as their treatment (i.e. antibiotics only work on bacteria) and prevention methods (e.g. hand washing, covering your mouth when coughing/sneezing, cooking meat all the way). What sort of overall (not necessarily specific) symptoms might they cause (i.e. prions affect the brain, viruses attack cells).

45. BACTERIAL DISEASES Anthrax Botulism Chlamydiasis Cholera
Dental Caries (tooth decay)
Legionnaire's Disease
Lyme Disease
MRSA
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Strep throat
Syphilis
Tetanus
Tuberculosis

46. FUNGAL DISEASES Athlete’s foot Dutch Elm Disease Ergotism
Histoplasmosis
Potato Blight
Ringworm
Thrush

47. PROTOZOAN/ALGAL DISEASES
Malaria
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Estuary Associated Syndrome
Giradiasis
Cryptosporidiosis

48. PRION DISEASE
Scrapie
Kuru

49. PARASITIC WORMS Hookworm Pinworm Schistosomiasis Tapeworm Trichinosis
Know the morphology of parasitic worms at any stage of development as well as treatment and prevention.

50. Additional Resources:
Microbe Mission National Page
2017 List of Diseases
2017 PowerPoint
Event Supervisor Guide
Centers for Disease Control
BrainPop!
Questions:
Erin Bingham
Courtney Behrle
Brain pop has both a virtual microscope game and a videos with quizzes on the basics of bacteria, fungus, and protists