Microbiology vocab Flashcards
acute
an infection with rapid onset and short duration
antagonism
the inhibition of one organism by another
antibodies
a substance developed by the body in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen, also known as immunoglobulin
antigen
any substance that stimulates an immune reaction
antisepsis
the prevention or inhibition of the growth of causative microorganisms on live tissue
attenuation
reduction of the virulence of a microorganism
autotrophic bacteria
self nourishing bacteria that are capable of growing in the absence of organic compounds
bacillus / bacilli
any rod shaped bacteria
bacteria
a prokaryotic one celled microorganism of the kingdom monera, existing as free living organisms or as parasites, multiplying by binary fission
bacterial colony
a visible group of bacteria, presumably arising from a single microorganism
bactericide
an agent that destroys bacteria, but not necessarily their spores
bacteriology
science that studies bacteria
binary fission
a sexual reproduction in prokaryotic cells resulting in 2 individual cells with genetic consistency
biological vector
an infected anthropod in which the disease causing organism multiplies within the antropod prior to becoming infective
capsule
a gelatinous coating that surrounds some bacterial cells that help to prevent phagocytosis
cell wall
a ridge layer outside the cell membrane of plants, fungi, and bacteria
chronic
an infection with slow onset and long duration
coccus / cocci
a type of bacteria that is spherical
commensalism
the symbiotic relationship of 2 organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit, such as protection or nourishment, and the other is not harmed or benefited
communicable
disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
contamination
the act of introducing disease germs or infectious material into an area or substance
disinfectant
a chemical of physical agent that kills disease causing microorganisms generally used on inanimate objects
disinfection
a chemical or physical agent that kills vegetative forms of microorganisms on inanimate objects
drug fast
a biological resistance to the reaction of drugs
endemic disease
a disease that occurs continuously in a particular region/population
endogenous infection
a form of infection caused by pathogens or an agent normally present in the body
endospore
a thick walled body produced by a bacterium to enable it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions
endotoxin
a bacterial toxin that is liberated only when the cell producing it disintegrates
epidemic
a disease or condition that is currently in higher than normal numbers in a given population
exogenous infections
a form of infection caused by a pathogen or agent not normally present in the body
exotoxin
a toxin produced within a living cell and secreted into its surrounding medium
facultative aerobe
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 anaerobe
an organism that prefers the presence of oxygen but is capable of living and growing in its absence
facultative parasite
prefers dead organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of living organic matter under certain conditions
facultative saprophyte
prefers living organisms as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use fo dead organic matter under certain conditions
focal infection
an infection originally confined to one area but may spread to other parts of the body
fomite
any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted
fungicide
an agent that kills fungi and their spores
fungus / fungi
a group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous
germicide
a substance that destroys microorganisms
heterotrophic bacteria
an organism that must obtain its nourishment from complex organic matter
hypochlorites
chlorine containing compound
infection
a condition in which the body, or a part thereof, is invaded by a pathogenic agent that can multiply and produce injurious effects
iodophores
a compound that contains iodine
local infection
an infection that is contained in one area of the body
maximum temperature
temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place
mechanical vector
a vector in which growth and development of the infective agent does not occur
MRSA / methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus
a strain of staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to a large group of antibiotics called the beta lactams, which include the penicillins and the cephalosporins
mesophile
bacteria that prefers moderate temperature and develops best at temperatures between 24 C and 40 C
microaerophilic
a microorganism that grows best in an oxygen reduced environment
microbiology
scientific study of microorganisms and their effect on other living organisms
minimum temperature
temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place
mixed infection
infection caused by 2 or more organisms
mutualism
a relationship in which organisms of 2 different species live in close association for the mutual benefit of each
mycology
the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi
mycoplasmas
a group of bacteria that lack cell walls and are highly pleomorphic
normal flora
a microbial population that lives within or under the host in a healthy condition
opportunist
an organism that exists as part of the normal flora but may become pathogenic under certain conditions
optimum temperature
temperature at which organisms grow best
osmotic pressure
pressure that develops when 2 solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane
pandemic
a disease affecting the majority of the population of a large region or an epidemic that has become very widespread or its worldwide
parasitism
an interactive relationship between 2 organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits
pathogenicity
the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease
primary infection
an infection that develops in an otherwise healthy individual
prion
an infectious self replicating protein involved in human and animal diseases of the central nervous system. this misfolded form of the prion protein has been implicated in a number of diseases in a variety of mammals, including vobine spongiform encephalopathy/mad cow disease and CJD
protozoa
eukaryotic, animal like, unicellular organisms
protozoology
science that deals with the study of protozoa
psychrophile
bacteria that prefer cold, thriving at temperatures between 0 C and 25 C
sanitation
to reduce microbe population to a safe level as determined by public health
secondary infection
an infection made possible by a primary infection that lowers host resistance
septicemia
growth and spreading of bacterial cells in the blood stream
spirillum
spiral shaped bacteria having a ridge cell wall
spirochete
spiral shaped bacteria having a flexible cell wall
sporadic
a disease that occurs occasionally in a random or isolated manner
staphylococcus
a genus of gram positive, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular grape like clusters
sterilization
process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and their products, including endospores
streptobacilli
rod shaped bacteria occurring in chains
streptococci
spherical shaped bacteria occurring in chains
strict / obligate aerobe
a microbe that can only live in the presence of oxygen
strict / obligate anaerobe
a microbe that can only survive in an area without oxygen present
strict / obligate parasite
a parasite that is completely dependent on its living host for survival
strict / obligate saprophyte
an organism that can survive on dead or decaying organic matter
symbiosis
the living together in close association with different species
synergism
the relationship between 2 or more microorganisms of different species in which they grow better together but can survive alone
thermophile
bacteria that thrive best at high temperatures, between 40C and 70C
toxemia
the presence of toxins in the blood
toxin
a poisonous substance of plant, animal, bacterial, or fungal origin
true pathogen
an organism that, due to its own virulence, is able to produce disease
vibrio
spiral bacteria that are curved or bent rods that resemble commas
viricide
an agent destructive to viruses
virology
the study of viruses and viral diseases
virulence
relative power of an organism to produce disease
virus
an intracellular pathogen limited to replicating only in living cells, containing only one form of nucleic acid
