Thursday 11 November 2010

MRCP revision battle 46.1: Classification of bacteria

A completely random mixed bag today, bursting full of random nuggets of MRCP knowledge...


MRCP revision battle 46.1: Classification of bacteria
MRCP revision battle 46.2: Tumour supressor genes and Li Fraumeni Syndrome
MRCP revision battle 46.3: Mitochondrial disorders and Leber's Optic Atrophy
MRCP revision battle 46.4: Cytotoxic Agents
MRCP revision battle 46.5: Congenital infections
MRCP revision battle 46.6: Rheumatoid factor
MRCP revision battle 46.7: Lichen Planus





MRCP revision battle 45.1: Classification of bacteria


MRCP questions just love commenting on the colour/shape of bacteria.  Hopefully my simple picture below (which was also stuck next to the loo during finals!) might help you.  Note that gram positive bacteria have walls so stain purple/blue while gram negative bacteria don't and stain pink.




My way of remembering them is 'SES ('says') ABCD then L....MN then all the rest'


As well as their colour/shape their 'pattern' is useful to know too:
  • pairs of cocci (= diplococci): neisseria gonorrhoea, neisseria meningitidis
  • chains of cocci: streptococci, enterococci
  • clumps of cocci: staphylococci


Now for some genetics...