Definitions

Question 1

Taxonomy

Answer 1

• G. taxis = arrangement, nomia - method
• science of defining groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared characteristics and giving names to those groups
• organisms are grouped together into taxa & these groups are given a taxonomic rank
• groups of a given rank can be aggregated to form a super group of higher rank, thus creating a taxonomic hierarchy
• the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus is regarded as the father of taxonomy, as he developed a system known as Linnaean classification for categorization of organisms & binomial nomenclature for naming organisms

Question 2

Prokaryote

Answer 2

unicellular microorganism lacking nucleus and membrane bound organelles, includes bother bacteria and archaea

Question 3

Eukaryote

Answer 3

uni- or multicellular organisms containing nuclei and membrane bound organelles

Question 4

plasmid

Answer 4

extrachromosomal, independently replicating DNA molecule

Question 5

PCR

Answer 5

polymerase chain reaction: in vitro technique for the amplification of target DNA sequences

Question 6

RT-PCR

Answer 6

Real-Time PCR: in vitro technique for simultaneous amplification & detection of target DNA sequences, may or may not be quantitative

Question 7

Intrinsic resistance

Answer 7

resistance which is ‘normal’ for a species. this species has MICs so high that an agent it is intrinsically resistant to should never be considered for therapy or susceptibility testing

Question 8

acquired resistance

Answer 8

resistance which is not constitutive. organisms w/ acquired resistance are not able to be treated w/ drugs which MAY normally be used for these infections. these are superbugs!

Question 9

enteric bacteria

Answer 9

bacteria that typically exists in the intestines

Question 10

saprophyte

Answer 10

plant, fungus, or microorganism that lives on dead or decaying organic matter

Question 11

Nosocomial

Answer 11

acquired from a hospital

Question 12

superantigen

Answer 12

antigen which is capable of stimulating a much larger number of T-cells than an ordinary antigen, resulting in an exaggerated response

Question 13

peracute

Answer 13

very fast (fastest)

Question 14

acute

Answer 14

sudden onset, sharp rise (very fast)

Question 15

subacute

Answer 15

btwn acute & chronic

Question 16

chronic

Answer 16

continuing, constant, long term

Question 17

subclinical

Answer 17

not clinically apparent (doesnt appear sick). may be disease w/ mild, less obvious effects - not to be confused w/ asymptomatic (no effects)