Microbiology Glossary Flashcards
A localized accumulation of pus in tissues
Abscess
A differential staining result where the bacterial smear is not decolorized with alcohol containing 3% HC1 after staining with carbol fuchsim
Acid-Fast
Bacteria that retain a RED color when treated with an acid alcohol after being stained with an aniline dye
Acid Fast Bacteria
Resistance resulting from infection with a specific microorganism (active) or by receiving antibodies from mother (passive)
Acquired Immunity
Resistance resulting from having the disease or by receiving a vaccine
Active Immunity
Compound in which energy is stored in high energy phosphate bonds; its components are the purine adenine, D-ribose, and three phosphoric acid groups
Adenosine Triposphate (ATP)
The process of introducing oxygen so that organic material can be degraded by aerobic bacteria. The procedure is used in sewage treatment
Aeration
An organism that requires free atmospheric oxygen for respiration
Aerobe
A suspension of particles in air
Aerosol
Clumping of cells in a suspension by action of a specific antibody
Agglutination
Antibody that causes agglutination of its particulate antigen, as bacteria, or other cells
Agglutinin
A disease caused by a retrovirus called HTLV III or LAV or HIV. This virus infection results in destruction of the T4-helper cells and loss of immunity to most opportunistic infection
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
A harmful antigen-antibody reaction, usually caused by a foreign antigen in food, pollen, or chemicals; also known as hypersensitivity
Allergy
Substance that enters into combination with cells and complement to produce dissolution of cells (e.g. hemolysin)
Amboceptor
Protozoan that moves by extruding finger like processes (psuedopods).
Ameba, Amoebae
Pl. Amebas, Amoebae
Infection with pathogenic amebas
Amebiasis
Acute amebiasis is known as
Amebic Dysentry
The biochemical process involved in the synthesis of cell constituents from simpler molecules, usually requiring energy
Anabolism
Building up processes of living cells
Anabolism
An organism that is capable of living in the absence of free oxygen; live only in the absence of oxygen
Anaerobe
An extreme antigen-antibody reaction in allergy, productin acute asthma, sometimes resulting in death. Of most concern in drug allergies
Anaphylactic Shock
State of hypersusceptibility to a protein resulting from a previous introduction of the protein into the body
Anaphylaxis
Mutual opposition or contrary action. The inhibition of one bacterial organism by another
Antagonism
Agent produced by one organism that will destroy or inhibit another organism
Antibiotic
Glycoprotein substance developed in response to, and interacting specifically with an antigen
Antibody AKA Immunoglobulin
A foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that interact specifically with it
Antigen
The prevention of sepsis by preventing or inhibiting the growth of causative microorganisms
Antisepsis
A substance that will prevent the growth of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms without necessarily destroying them
Antiseptic
Serum that contains antibodies
Antiserum
Antibody found in blood serum that is capable of neutralizing or destroying its homologous toxin
Antitoxin
An invertebrate animal with jointed legs, such as an insect or a crustacean
Arthropod
Resistance to disease that develops after administration of a vaccine or inactivated toxin
Artificial Activ eImmunity
A medium for microbial growth that contains complex substances such as beef extract, yeast extract, tryptones, and blood
Artificial Medium
A condition in which there are no infectious or contaminating microorganisms; the absence of sepsis
Asepsis
Free of microorganisms that can cause contamination or infection
Aseptic
Procedures used in handing cultures, media, and equipment so that only the desired organisms (if any) are present, with no contaminants
Aseptic Technique
A process whereby one cell is formed without the fusion of two cells; means without sex
Asexual
Weakened
Attenuated
Dilution or weakening of virulence of a microorganisms, reducing or abolishing pathogenicity
Attenuation
Loss of virulence of a pathogen. Generally due to overgrowth of non-virulent stains in laboratory culture; attenuated strains are often used as vaccines
Attenuation of Virulence
Apparatus for sterilizing by steam under pressure; pressure steam sterilizer
Autoclave
Due to antibodies produced against the individual’s own tissues; failure to differentiate between self and non-self
Autoimmune Disease
Self-lysis or disintegration of cells due to the action of their enzymes
Autolysis
Self-nourishing bacteria that are capable of growing in the absence of organic compounds. Organisms that obtain carbon from carbon dioxide
Autotrophic Bacteria
Lacking disease-producing ability
Avirulent
Any rod shaped microorganism
Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)
The presence of viable bacteria in the blood stream
Bacteremia
A procaryotic 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
To kill bacteria
Bactericidal
An agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores
Bactericide
Science that studies bacteria
Bacteriology
Inhibiting growth or multiplication of bacteria
Bacteriostatic
Vaccine against tuberculosis made from a bovine strain of tubercle bacilli attenuated through long culturing; name is derived from the two French scientists developing the staing
Bacillus of Calmette-Guerin (BCG)
A method of asexual reproduction in bacteria in which the cells splits into two parts, each of which develops into a complete individual
Binary Fission
An arthropod vector in which the disease causing organisms multiplies or develops within the arthropod prior to becoming infective for a susceptible individual
Biological Vector
Science that studies the living macroorganisms, both animals and plants
Biology
At both ends of the cell
Bipolar
Fluid that eudes when blood clots; blood plasma without fibrinogen
Blood Serum
Photosynthetic procaryotes that contain chlorophyll and phycocyanin pigments and often move by gliding
Blue-Green Algae
Abscess of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Boil
Random movement of bacterial cells and small particles due to bombardment by water molecules
Brownian Movement
Inflammatory enlargement and inflammation of a lymph node
Bubo
Process of cell division in which the mother cell retains its identityl the daughter cell is formed by growth of a new daughter cell on one part of the mother cell
Budding
The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid core of a virus
Capsid
A subunit of the protein capsid of a virus
Capsomere
An envelope of polysaccharide or protein that surrounds certain microorganisms
Capsule
Class of organic chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrodren, and oxygen; to this class belong the sugars, starches, and cellulose
Carbohydrates
An individual who harbors and may disseminate pathogenic organisms but may or may not show symptoms of the disease
Carrier
The biochemical processes involved in the breakdown of organic compounds, usually leading to the production of energy
Catabolism
A substance that alter the speed of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the process
Catalyst
An individual biological unit capable of independent function and dividing to form two new identical cells
Cell
Immunity developed by certain cells that have acquired an increased ability to ingest or destroy specific foreign substances
Cellular Immunity
Initial lesion in the primary stage of acquired syphillis
Chancre
Treatment of an infectious disease by drugs that act against the pathogen but do not harm the host
Chemotherapy
A largy group of nonmotile, gram negative intracellular parasites
Chlamydia
Producing a color; is a pigmented colony
Chromogenic
Long continued duration
Chronic
Short, hair-like structures that provide for movement; characteristic of Protozoa Class Ciliata
Cilia (pl. Cilium)
A population of genetically identical cells; a strain
Clone
An enzyme that, in concert with certain serum factors, causes blood plasma to clot; produced by staphylococcus aureus
Coagulase
The formation of a mass or clot
Coagulation
Oval bacterium that is intermediate between the coccus and bacillus forms
Coccobacillus
A type of bacteria that is spherical or ovoid in form
Coccus (pl. cocci)
Small, aerobic, gram negative, nonsporeforming bacilli; ferment lactose, with acid and gas production. Normal inhabitants of lower intestine
Coliform Bacteria
A visible mass of bacteria growing on a solid medium, such as a clump of microorganisms that develop from a single cell or a group of cells; visible to the naked eye on solid or semisolid medium
Colony
The symbolic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment
Commensalism
A disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
Communicable
A disease transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another by direct or indirect contact
Communicable Disease
A heat liable substance in the blood that is necessary for the lytic action of certain antibodies
Complement
Destruction or inactivation of complement brought about by the combination of antigen, antibody, and complement; this is the basis of the complement fixation tests for syphilis and certain other diseases
Complement Fixation
A microscope that has two sets of lenses, one in the objective next to the object to be studied, and the other in the ocular next to the eye
Compound Microscope
Disinfection procedures carried out throughout the course of an illness with rigid aseptic disposal of contaminated materials
Concurrent Disinfection
Sexual method of reproduction involving contact between mating cells; in bacteria, genetic material is transferred from donor to recipient cell through actual contact of the two cells
Conjugation
An infection transmitted through the air, by water, food, objects, direct contact, or by insects or animals
Contagious Disease
The act of introducing disease germs or infectious material into an area or substance
Contamination
Artificial food material upon which microorganisms are grown
Culture Media (Medium)
A particular strain or kind of organism growing in a laboratory medium
Culture
Relating to the skin
Cutaneous
A double bacillus, two being linked end to end to each other
Diplbacilli
A genus of bacteria that are gram-positive organisms occurring in pairs
Diplococcus (Streptococcus)
A chemical or physical agent that kills disease-causing microorganisms generally used on inanimate objects
Disinfectant
The destruction of infectious agents by chemical or physical means directly applied to an inanimate object
Disinfection
Infection conveyed by the spray thrown off from the mouth and nose in talking or coughing
Droplet Infection
Resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs
Drug-Fast
DTP
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis Vaccine
Diarrhea plus blood and mucus in the stool; related to inflammation of the alimentary tract
Dysentery
Inflammation of the brain
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
Encephalomyelitis
Disease that occurs continuously in a particular region but has low mortality
Endemic
Produced or arising from within the organism
Endogenous
Produced or arising from within a cell or organism
Endogenous Infection
Minute; highly durable body, developed within certain bacterial cells and capable of developing into new vegetative cells; characteristic of the genera Bacillus and Clostridium
Endospore
Bacterial toxin confined within the body of a bacterium freed only when the bacterium is broken down, found only in gram negative bacteria
Endotoxin
Appearance of an infectious disease or condition that attacks many people at the same time in the same geographical area
Epidemic
Acute infection of the skin that results in characteristic red, edematous lesions; found most commonly on the face and legs; caused by a group A, beta hemolytic streptococci
Erysipelas
The study of a disease’s cause
Etiology
A cell or organism having a true nucleus
Eucaryotem
Febrile disease accompanied by a skin eruption
Exanthema
Originating outside an organ or part
Exogenous Infection
A toxin produced by a microorganism and excreted into its surrounding medium, generally protein in nature
Exotoxin
An organism that prefers an anaerobic environment but can utilize free oxygen if necessary
Facultative Aerobe
An organism that prefers an aerobic environment but can survive without free oxygen if necessary
Facultative Anaerobe
Having the capacity to do something that is not compulsory, in particular having the ability to live or adapt to certain conditions
Facultative Bacteria
One in which the organisms are originally confined to one area but enter the blood or lymph vessel and spread to other parts of the body
Focal Infection
A gastrointestinal disturbance due to ingestion of food containing toxins or poisonous substances that have been excreted into the food by certain species of bacteria, frequently Staphylococcus aureus, less commonly Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens
Food Poisoning
Formaldehyde is a specific aqueous mixture of formaldehyde that contains 37% by weight, 40% by volume and 7% methyl alcohol
Formalin
Any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted
Fomite
A group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous
Fungus (Fungi)
An agent that kills fungi and their spores
Fungicide
Ischemic necrosis plus putrefaction
Gangrene
A group of related species
Genus
An infection that becomes systemic
General Infection
A substance that destroys microorganisms
Germicide
Microorganisms, usually meaning bacteria
Germs
Differential stain that provides for grouping of bacteria as either gram-positive or gram negative
Gram-Stain
If the organism retains the initial stain after contact with the decolorizer, it is
Gram-positive
If the organism loses the stain after exposure to a decolorizer, it is
Gram-Negative
The causative agent of AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A method for observing bacterial motility in a liquid medium
Hanging Drop Preparation
A person who harbors and spreads pathogenic microorganisms without giving evidence of disease
Healthy Carrier
An iron protein pigment in red blood cells; serves as an oxygen carrier
Hemoglobin
A substance that will cause the destruction of red blood corpuscles, especially antibodies or enzyme-like substances produced by bacteria
Hemolysin
Lysis of red blood cells
Hemolysis
Blood loving; genus name
Hemophilus
Inflammation of the liver; frequently due to a virus
Hepatitis
A dermatotropic viral disease causing blister like skin lesions on the oral or genital regions
Herpes
Organism using an organic compound as a carbon source
Heterotroph
An organism that requires one or more complex organic nutrients from a carbon source in order to grow and develop
Heterotrophic Bacteria
An organism that supports a parasite
Host
Spreading factor; enzymes capable of degrading hyaluronic acid, the intracellular material of connective tissues; may help the spread of the invading organism in the tissues
Hyaluronidase
Quality of possessing a degree of immunity greater than that found under similar circumstances
Hyperimmune
Increased sensitivity, or allergy, to foreign materials
Hypersensitivity
Having a greater osmotic pressure inside the cell than outside the cell. Causes the movement of water into the cellresulting in plasmoptysis or swelling of the cell
Hypertonic
Solution with a higher osmotic pressure than that of a reference solution
Hypertonic Solution
A single strand or filament of a fungus composing the mycelium
Hyphae
Having a greater osmotic pressure outside the cell than inside the cell. Forces the movement of water out of the cell resulting in plasmolysis or shrinking of the cell
Hypotonic
Solution with a lower osmotic pressure than that of a reference solution
Hypotonic Solution
