Entire Microbiology Vocabulary Flashcards
mutual opposition or contrary action; the inhibition of one microorganism by another
Antagonism
glycoprotein substance developed by the body in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen; also known as immunoglobulin
Antibody
a foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that react specifically with it
Antigen
the prevention or inhibiting of the growth of causative microorganisms
Antisepsis
dilution or weakening of the virulence of a microorganism; reducing or abolishing pathogenicity
Attenuation
self-nourishing bacteria
Autotrophic Bacteria
rod-shaped bacteria
Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)
the presence of bacteria in the blood
Bacteremia
a prokaryotic one-celled microorganism of the Kingdom Monera, existing as free-living organisms or as parasites, multiplying by binary fission and having a large range of biochemical properties
Bacteria
a visible group of bacteria growing on a solid medium, presumably arising from a single microorganism
Bacterial Colony
an agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores
Bactericide
science that studies bacteria
Bacteriology
a method of asexual reproduction involving halving of the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell followed by the development of each half into a new individual cell
Binary Fission
an arthropod vector in which the disease-causing organism multiplies or develops within the arthropod prior to becoming infective
Biological Vector
Chlorine-containing compounds
Bleaches (hypochlorites)
a coating that surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, helps to protect against phagocytosis
Capsule
a large group of nonmotile, gram-negative intracellular parasites
Chlamydia
the type of bacteria that is spherical or round in form
Coccus (pl. Cocci)
the symbiotic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one 1gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment and the other is not harmed or benefited
Commensalism
a disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
Communicable
the act of introducing pathogens or infectious material into or on an inanimate object
Contamination
a pair of bacilli, linked end to end
Diplobacilli
spherical bacteria that occur in pairs
Diplococci
a chemical or physical agent that destroys or inhibits disease-causing microorganisms
Disinfectant
the destruction or inhibition of disease-causing microorganisms by chemical or physical means
Disinfection
resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs
Drug-fast
a disease that occurs continuously in a particular region
Endemic
organism disorder caused by an infectious agent already present in the body
Endogenous Infection
a thick-walled body produced by a bacterium to enable it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions
Endospore
a bacterial toxin that is liberated only when the cell producing it disintegrates
Endotoxin
disease or condition that is currently in higher than normal numbers in a given community
Epidemic
a form of infection caused by a pathogen or agent not normally present in the body
Exogenous Infection
a bacterial toxin produced within a living cell and secreted into its surrounding medium
Exotoxin
a microorganism that prefers an environment devoid of oxygen but has adapted so that it can live and grow in the presence of oxygen
Facultative Aerobe
an organism that prefers the presence of oxygen but is capable of living and growing in its absence
Facultative Anaerobe
prefers dead organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of living organic matter under certain conditions
Facultative Parasite
prefers living organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of dead organic matter under certain conditions
Facultative Saprophyte
one in which the organisms are originally confined to one area but enter the blood or lymph vessels and spread to other parts of the body
Focal Infection
any inanimate object that harbors a disease agent and may serve to transmit it
Fomite
a substance that kills fungi
Fungicide
a group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous
Fungus (pl. fungi)
an infection that involves the whole body
General (systemic) Infection
a substance that destroys microorganisms
Germicide
organisms that must obtain their nourishment from complex organic matter
Heterotrophic Bacteria
chlorine-containing compounds
Hypochlorites (bleaches)
the state or condition in which the body or a part of it is invaded by a pathogenic agent that, under favorable conditions, multiplies and produces injurious effects
Infection
a compound containing iodine which is often used as a preoperative skin disinfectant
Iodophores
an infection confined to one area of the body
Local Infection
temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place
Maximum Temperature
a living organism capable of transmitting infections by carrying the disease agent on its external body parts or surfaces.
Mechanical Vector
bacteria that prefer moderate temperatures and develop best at temperatures between 25℃ and 40℃
Mesophile
requiring very little free oxygen; as found with certain bacteria
Microaerophilic
scientific study of microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms
Microbiology
temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place
Minimum Temperature
infection caused by two or more organisms
Mixed Infection
a relationship in which organisms of two different species live in close association to the mutual benefit of each
Mutualism
the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi
Mycology
a group of bacteria that lack cell walls and are highly pleomorphic
Mycoplasmas
organisms that are free-living; relationships are not required for survival
Non-symbiotic
the microbial population that lives with the host in a healthy condition
Normal Flora
an organism that exists as part of the normal flora but may become pathogenic under certain conditions
Opportunist
the temperature at which organisms grow best
Optimum Temperature
the pressure that develops when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane
Osmotic Pressure
an epidemic that has become very widespread or is worldwide
Pandemic
a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits
Parasitism
the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease
Pathogenicity
the first infection that a host has after a period of health from which a second infection develops
Primary Infection
a small proteinaceous infectious particle that is believed to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and other mammals
Prion
eucaryotic, animal-like, unicellular organisms; some of which may be pathogenic
Protozoa
the science that deals with the study of protozoa
Protozoology
bacteria that prefer cold, thriving at temperatures between 0℃ and 25℃
Psychrophile
a genus of gram-negative, pathogenic, obligate intracellular parasitic bacteria
Rickettsia
area of science that studies Rickettsia
Rickettsiology
the process to promote and establish conditions which minimize or eliminate biohazards
Sanitation
infection caused by a different organism than the one causing the primary infection
Secondary Infection
condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in the blood
Septicemia
a genus of spiral bacteria having a corkscrew shape with a rigid cell wall
Spirillum (pl. Spirilla)
spiral-shaped bacteria having a flexible cell wall
Spirochete
a disease which occurs occasionally in a random or isolated manner
Sporadic
a genus of gram-positive, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters
Staphylococcus
a process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and their products including endospores
Sterilization
rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains
Streptobacilli
spherical-shaped bacteria occurring in chains
Streptococci
a microbe that can live only in the presence of free oxygen
Strict (obligate) Aerobe
a microbe that can survive only in the absence of free oxygen
Strict (obligate) Anaerobe
an organism that is completely dependent on its living host for survival
Strict (obligate) Parasite
an organism that can survive only on dead or decaying organic matter
Strict (obligate) Saprophyte
a relationship in which organisms of different species live in close nutritional relationships
Symbiosis
the relationship between two or more microorganisms of different species in which they grow better together but can survive alone
Synergism
bacteria that thrive best at high temperatures, between 40℃ and 70℃
Thermophile
the presence of toxins in the blood
Toxemia
a poisonous substance of plant, animal, bacterial or fungal origin
Toxin
an organism that due to its own virulence is able to produce disease
True Pathogen
a genus of spiral bacteria which are curved or bent rods that resemble commas
Vibrio
an agent destructive to viruses
Virucide
the study of viruses and viral diseases
Virology
relative power of an organism to produce disease
Virulence
an intracellular, infectious parasite capable of replicating only in living cells, containing only one form of nucleic acid
Virus
