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Science Section > Microbiology - Glossary > Flashcards

Microbiology - Glossary Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

mutual opposition or contrary action; the inhibition of one microorganism by another

A

antagonism

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2
Q

glycoprotein substance developed by the body in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen; also known as immunoglobulin

A

antibody

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3
Q

a foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that react specifically with it

A

antigen

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4
Q

the prevention or inhibiting of the growth of causative microorganisms

A

antisepsis

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5
Q

dilution or weakening of the virulence of a microorganism; reducing or abolishing pathogenicity

A

attenuation

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6
Q

self-nourishing bacteria

A

autotrophic bacteria

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7
Q

rod-shaped bacteria

A

bacillus / pl. bacilli

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8
Q

the presence of bacteria in the blood

A

bacteremia

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9
Q

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

A

bacteria

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10
Q

a visible group of bacteria growing on a solid medium, presumably arising from a single microorganism

A

bacterial colony

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11
Q

an agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores

A

bactericide

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12
Q

science that studies bacteria

A

bacteriology

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13
Q

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

A

binary fission

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14
Q

an arthropod vector in which the disease-causing organism multiplies or develops within the arthropod prior to becoming infective

A

biological vector

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15
Q

chlorine-containing compounds

A

bleaches / hypochlorites

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16
Q

a coating that surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, helps to protect against phagocytosis

A

capsule

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17
Q

a large group of nonmotile, gram-negative intracellular parasites

A

chlamydia

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18
Q

the type of bacteria that is spherical or round in form

A

coccus / pl. cocci

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19
Q

the symbiotic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment, and the other is not harmed or benefited

A

commensalism

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20
Q

a disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another

A

communicable

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21
Q

the act of introducing pathogens or infectious material into or on an inanimate object

A

contamination

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22
Q

a pair of bacilli, linked end to end

A

diplobacilli

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23
Q

spherical bacteria that occurs in pairs

A

diplococci

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24
Q

a chemical or physical agent that destroys or inhibits disease-causing microorganisms

A

disinfectant

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25
Q

the destruction or inhibition of disease-causing microorganisms by chemical or physical means

A

disinfection

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26
Q

fast-resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs

A

drug

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27
Q

disease that occurs continuously in a particular region

A

endemic

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28
Q

organism disordered caused by an infectious agent already present in the body

A

endogenous infection

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29
Q

a thick-walled body produced by a bacterium to enable it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions

A

endospore

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30
Q

a bacterial toxin that is liberated only when the cell producing it disintegrates

A

endotoxin

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31
Q

organism disorder caused by an infectious agent already present in the body

A

endogenous infection

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32
Q

disease or condition that is currently in higher than normal numbers in a given community

A

epidemic

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33
Q

a form of infection caused by a pathogen or agent not normally present in the body

A

exogenous infection

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34
Q

a bacterial toxin produced within a living cell and secreted into its surrounding medium

A

exotoxin

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35
Q

a microorganism that prefers an environment devoid of oxygen but has adapted so that it can live and grow in the presence of oxygen

A

facultative aerobe

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36
Q

prefers dead organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of living organic matter under certain conditions

A

facultative parasite

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37
Q

prefers living organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of dead organic matter under certain conditions

A

facultative saprophyte

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38
Q

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

A

focal infection

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39
Q

any inanimate object that harbors a disease agent and may serve to transmit it

A

fomite

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40
Q

a substance that kills fungi

A

fungicide

41
Q

a group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous

A

fungus / pl. fungi

42
Q

an infection that involves the whole body

A

general (systemic) infection

43
Q

a substance that destroys microorganisms

A

germicide

44
Q

organisms that must obtain their nourishment from complex organic matter

A

heterotrophic bacteria

45
Q

chlorine-containing compounds

A

hypochlorites / bleaches

46
Q

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

A

infection

47
Q

a compound containing iodine which is often used as a preoperative skin disinfectant

A

iodophores

48
Q

an infection confined to one area of the body

A

local infection

49
Q

temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place

A

maximum temperature

50
Q

a living organism capable of transmitting infections by carrying the disease agent on its external body parts or surfaces

A

mechanical vector

51
Q

bacteria that prefer moderate temperatures and develop best at temperatures between 25o and 40oC

A

mesophile

52
Q

requiring very little free oxygen; as found with certain bacteria

A

microaerophilic

53
Q

scientific study of microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms

A

microbiology

54
Q

temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place

A

minimum temperature

55
Q

infection caused by two or more organisms

A

mixed infection

56
Q

a relationship in which organisms of two different species live in close association to the mutual benefit of each

A

mutualism

57
Q

the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi

A

mycology

58
Q

a group of bacteria that lack cell walls and are highly pleomorphic

A

mycoplasmas

59
Q

organisms that are free-living; relationships are not required for survival

A

non-symbiotic

60
Q

the microbial population that lives with the host in a healthy condition

A

normal flora

61
Q

an organism that exists as part of the normal flora but may become pathogenic under certain conditions

A

opportunist

62
Q

temperature at which organisms grow best

A

optimum temperature

63
Q

pressure that develops when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane

A

osmotic pressure

64
Q

an epidemic that has become very widespread or is worldwide

A

pandemic

65
Q

a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits

A

parasitism

66
Q

the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease

A

pathogenicity

67
Q

the first infection that a host has after a period of health from which a second infection develops

A

primary infection

68
Q

a small proteinaceous infectious particle that is believed to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and o there mammals

A

prion

69
Q

eukaryotic, animal-like, unicellular organisms; some of which may be pathogenic

A

protozoa

70
Q

science that deals with the study of protozoa

A

protozoology

71
Q

bacteria that prefer color, thriving at temperatures between 0 and 25oC

A

psychorophile

72
Q

a genus of gram-negative pathogenic, obligate intracellular parasitic bacteria

A

rickettsia

73
Q

area of science that studies Rickettsia

A

rickettsiology

74
Q

process to promote and establish conditions which minimize or eliminate biohazards

A

sanitation

75
Q

infection caused by a different organism than the one causing the primary infection

A

secondary infection

76
Q

condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in the blood

A

septicemia

77
Q

a genus of spiral bacteria having a corkscrew shape with a rigid cell wall

A

spirillum / pl. spirilla

78
Q

spiral-shaped bacteria having a flexible cell wall

A

spirochete

79
Q

a disease which occurs occasionally in a random or isolated manner

A

sporadic

80
Q

a genus of gram-positive, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters

A

staphylococcus

81
Q

a process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and their products including endospores

A

sterilization

82
Q

rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains

A

streptobacilli

83
Q

spherical-shaped bacteria occurring in chains

A

streptococci

84
Q

a microbe that can live only in the presence of free oxygen

A

strict (obligate) aerobe

85
Q

a microbe that can survive only in the absence of free oxygen

A

strict (obligate) anaerobe

86
Q

an organism that is completely dependent on its living host for survival

A

strict (obligate) parasite

87
Q

an organism that can survive only on dead or decaying organic matter

A

strict (obligate) saprophyte

88
Q

a relationship in which organisms of different species live in close nutritional relationships

A

symbiosis

89
Q

the relationship between two or more microorganisms of different species in which they grow better together but can survive alone

A

synergism

90
Q

bacteria that thrive best at high temperatures, between 40c and 70oC

A

thermophile

91
Q

the presence of toxins in the blood

A

toxemia

92
Q

a poisonous substance of plant, animal, bacterial, or fungal origin

A

toxin

93
Q

an organism that due to its own virulence is able to produce disease

A

true pathogen

94
Q

a genus of spiral bacteria which are curved or bent rods that resemble commas

A

vibrio

95
Q

an agent destructive to viruses

A

virucide

96
Q

the study of viruses and viral disease

A

virology

97
Q

relative power of an organism to produce disease

A

virulence

98
Q

an intracellular, infectious parasite capable of replicating only in living cells, containing only one form of nucleic acid

A

virus

Science Section (12 decks)

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