glossary test

Question 1

autotrophic

Answer 1

self-nourishing bacteria

Question 2

endotoxin

Answer 2

toxin confined within the cell

Question 3

local infection

Answer 3

infection that lodges and remains in one point

Question 4

mesophile

Answer 4

bacteria that prefer moderate temperatures

Question 5

prions

Answer 5

create spongiform encephalopathies

Question 6

synergism

Answer 6

two microorganisms together producing a “unique” effect

Question 7

exotoxin

Answer 7

toxin excreted into surrounding medium

Question 8

general infection

Answer 8

systemic infection

Question 9

commensalism

Answer 9

relationship where on organism benefits and the other is not harmed

Question 10

facultative anaerobe

Answer 10

prefers oxygen, but can grow without it

Question 11

fomite

Answer 11

contaminated inanimate object

Question 12

sporadic

Answer 12

disease which occurs in scattered instances

Question 13

strict aerobe

Answer 13

only lives in the presence of free oxygen

Question 14

parasitism

Answer 14

relationship where one organism is harmed and the other benefits

Question 15

obligate anaerobe

Answer 15

only survives in the absence of free oxygen

Question 16

psychrophile

Answer 16

bacteria that prefer cold temperatures

Question 17

coccus

Answer 17

bacteria that is spherical or ovoid in form

Question 18

mutualism

Answer 18

relationship between two organisms and both benefits

Question 19

capsule

Answer 19

gel-like structure that helps protect against phagocytosis

Question 20

epidemic

Answer 20

disease that attacks many people in the same geographical area

Question 21

biological vector

Answer 21

pathogen that develops within the arthropod

Question 22

vibrio

Answer 22

genus of spiral bacteria resembling commas

Question 23

symbiotic

Answer 23

organisms in close nutritional relationships required by one of both members

Question 24

opportunist

Answer 24

organism in the normal flora that may become pathogenic

Question 25

diplococcus

Answer 25

genus of bacteria that occurs in pairs

Question 26

antigen

Answer 26

a foreign substance that stimulates formation of antibodies

Question 27

bacillus

Answer 27

rod-shaped bacteria

Question 28

virulence

Answer 28

power of an organism to produce disease

Question 29

disinfection

Answer 29

destruction of pathogens by chemical or physical means

Question 30

minimum temp.

Answer 30

temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place

Question 31

pandemic

Answer 31

disease affecting the majority of the population in a large region

Question 32

mechanical vector

Answer 32

organism that transmits pathogens on its external body parts

Question 33

attenuation

Answer 33

weakening the virulence of a microorganism

Question 34

endemic

Answer 34

disease occurs in a particular region with low mortality

Question 35

indigenous flora

Answer 35

synonymous with “normal flora” and “microbiota”