Microbiology Vocabulary Flashcards
Oval bacterium that is intermediate between the coccus and the bacillus forms.
Coccobacillus
A condition in which there are no infectious or contaminating microorganisms; the absence of sepsis.
Asepsis
A visible mass of bacteria growing on a solid medium, such as a clump or microorganisms that develop from a single cell or a group of cells; visible to the naked eye on solid or semisolid mediums.
Colony
Process of cell division in which the mother cell retains its identity; the daughter cell is formed by growth of a new daughter cell on one part of the mother cell.
Budding
Bacterial toxin confined within the body of a bacterium freed only when the bacterium is broken down, found only in gram negative bacteria.
Endotoxin
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
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 strain.
BCG (Bacillus or Calmette-Guerin)
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
An enzyme that, in concert with certain serum factors, causes blood plasma to clot; produced by Staphylococcus aureus.
Coagulase
An organism that lives on or within a living host from which it derives its nourishment.
Parasite
Property of movement of a cell under its own.
Motility
A group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous.
Fungus (Fungi)
Infection caused by a different organism than the one causing the primary infection.
Secondary Infection
The living together in close association of different species.
Symbiosis
Membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Meninges
A genus of gram-negative, pathogenic, intracellular parasitic bacteria.
Rickettsia
A cell or organism having a true nucleus.
Eucaryotem
Solution with a lower osmotic pressure than that of a reference solution.
Hypotonic Solution
Spirochete, causative agent of syphilis.
Treponema Pallidum
Brucellosis; disease caused by Brucella species.
Undulant Fever
Poisoning by microorganisms or their products.
Sepsis
The formation of a mass or clot.
Coagulation
Stain that colors the background while the cells appear clear.
Negative Stain
A type of cell division used to replenish body cells.
Mitosis
Large mononuclear wandering, phagocytic cell that originates in the reticuloendohelial system.
Macrophage
Antibodies that render invading viruses non-infective.
Neutralizing Antibodies
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 (Referring to the cell)
Mutual opposition or contrary action. The inhibition of one bacterial organism by another.
Antagonism
A living organism or object that is capable of transmitting infections by carrying the disease agent on its external body parts or surface.
Mechanical Vector
At both ends of the cell.
Bipolar
Disinfection procedures carried out throughout the course of an illness with rigid aseptic disposal of contaminated materials.
Concurrent Disinfection
The state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease.
Pathogenicity
The presence of viruses in the blood.
Viremia
Round or oval bodies found in the nucleus or cytoplasm of cells during virus infections; may contain viral particles in some cases.
Inclusion Bodies
Antibody that causes agglutination of its particulate antigen, as bacteria, or other cells.
Agglutinin
Having flagella around the entire cell.
Peritrichous
A venereal disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum.
Syphilis
A disease affecting the majority of the population of a large region or one that is epidemic at the same time in many different parts of the world.
Pandemic
Affinity for the central nervous system or nervous tissue.
Neurotropic
The state or condition in which the body or part of it is invaded by a pathogenic agent that under favorable conditions, multiplies and produces injurious effects.
Infection
Genus of gram-negative diplococci; genus name for bacteria of gonorrhea and meningococcal meningitis.
Neisseria
An organism that prefers an aerobic environment but can survive without free oxygen if necessary.
Facultative Anaerobe
A substance that will prevent the growth of vegetative pathogenic microorganisms without necessarily destroying them.
Antiseptic
Bacteria of the Mycoplasma genus that are found in humans and most have no cell wall; the smallest free-living organisms presently known, being intermediate in size between viruses and bacteria.
Mycoplasmas
Visible to the naked eye.
Macroscopic
Unicellular chlorophyll-free plants, usually spherical or ovoid in shape, which multiply asexually by budding.
Yeast
An invertebrate animal with jointed legs, such as an insect or a crustacean.
Arthropod
The means by which an organism assimilates its food.
Nutrition
Round worms.
Nematodes
Situated between the center and the end of the cell as endospores.
Subterminal
Ischemic necrosis plus putrefaction.
Gangrene
A substance able to destroy phagocytes.
Leucocidin
Weakened.
Attenuated
Temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place.
Maximum Temperature
Prevention of growth or function.
Inhibition
A heat-liable substance in the blood that is necessary for the lytic action of certain antibodies.
Complement
Inhibiting growth or multiplication of bacteria.
Bacteriostatic
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
An organism that requires one or more complex organic nutrients from a carbon source in order to grow and develop.
Heterotrophic Bacteria
Animal or plant of microscopic size.
Microorganism
Concentration of infective microbes in a medium; amount of one substance to correspond with a given amount of another substance.
Titer
Name proposed for a thid kingdom to include microorganisms.
Protista
Serum that contains antibodies.
Antiserum
The diploid cell formed through the sexual union of two haploid cells.
Zygote
Round glass dish with cover used for growing bacterial cultures.
Petri Dish
A foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that interact specifically with it.
Antigen
Measles; usually means red measles.
Rubeola
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 Triphosphate (ATP)
Produced or arising from within a cell or organism.
Endogenous Infection
Immunity following recovery from disease.
Natural Active Immunity
The act of introducing disease germs or infectious material into an area or substance.
Contamination
A person who harbors and spreads pathogenic microorganisms without giving evidence of disease.
Healthy Carrier
A disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another.
Communicable
State of hypersusceptibility to a protein into the body.
Anaphylaxis
Bluish-white specks on mouth lesions in early measles, before skin eruption.
Koplik Spots
Deeply staining bodies found in one or both ends of a certain species of bacteria.
Polar Bodies
The presence of viable bacteria in the blood stream.
Bacteremia
A reaction between a soluble antigen and its antibody resulting in the formation of antigen-antibody complex too large to stay in solution.
Precipitin Reaction
The settling out of materials so they can be removed; useful in water purification.
Sedimentation
Passage of soluble DNA from donor to recipient bacterial cell, with a subsequent change in character of the recipient.
Transformation
The study of a disease’s cause.
Etiology
A localized accumulation of pus in tissues.
Abscess
Temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place.
Minimum Temperature
Prefix meaning false.
Pseudo
An organism that exists as part of the normal flora but may become pathogenic under certain conditions.
Opportunist
State of being highly resistant to a specific pathogenic organism; the increased resistance to infection.
Immunity
Fat-splitting enzyme.
Lipase
The extent of acidity or alkalinity of a solution or medium; expresses the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration; 7 is neutral, acids have a number less that 7, bases have a number more than 7.
pH (Potential of Hydrogen)
White blood cell, capable of ingesting foreign particles, including microorganisms.
Phagocyte
An infection acquired from a hospital environment.
Nosocomial
Inflammation of the liver, frequently due to a virus.
Hepatitis
Introduction of material into an animal or other medium.
Inoculation
Resistance to disease that develops after administration of a vaccine or inactivated toxin.
Artificial Active Immunity
Appearance of an infectious disease or condition that attacks many people at the same time in the same geographical area.
Epidemic
A medium for microbial growth that contains complex substances such as beef extract, yeast extract, tryptones, and blood.
Artificial Medium
Acute infection of the skin that results in characteristic red, edematous lesions; found most commonly on the face and legs; caused by group A, beta hemolytic streptococci.
Erysipelas
Apparatus for sterilizing by steam under pressure; pressure steam sterilizer.
Autoclave
Acute Amebiasis.
Amebic Dysentery
A substance that alters the speed of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the process.
Catalyst
Infection with streptococci or other pathogenic bacteria that occurs during the course of a chronic disease and causes death.
Terminal Infection
Microorganisms; usually meaning bacteria.
Germs
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
Condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in blood.
Septicemia
The immunity that is present at birth and is not changeable.
Innate
Change or alteration in form or qualities; a permanent transmissible change in the characters of an offspring from those of its parents.
Mutation
Photosynthetic procaryotes that contain chlorophyll and phycocyanin pigments and often move by gliding.
Blue-Green Algae
Induction of specific immunity by injecting antigen or antibodies.
Immunization
An extreme antigen-antibody reaction in allergy,producing acute asthma, sometimes resulting in death; of most concern in drug allergies.
Anaphylactic Shock
Antibody found in blood serum that is capable of neutralizing or destroying its homologous toxin.
Antitoxin
Infection of the mucous membranes of the mouth by Candida albi cans.
Thrush
Diagnostic test for scarlet fever; antitoxin to erythrogenic toxin is injected intracutaneously and the skin rash is observed for blanching.
Schultz-Charlton Reaction
Diphtheria-tenanus-pertussis vaccine.
DTP
Due to antibodies produced against the individual’s own tissues; failure to differentiate between self and non-self.
Autoimmune Disease
Spread by sexual contact.
Venereal
Antiserum; blood serum containing antibodies.
Immune Serum
Sudden attack of a disease or acceleration of the manifestations of an existing disease.
Paroxysm
Earliest phase of growth, during which the cell number stays constant while cells adjust to the new medium.
Lag Phase
- Science that studies the fungi; both yeasts and molds.
2. The branch of science concerned with the study of fungi.
Mycology
Special type of cell division during the maturation of the sex cells by which the normal number of chromosomes is halved.
Meiosis
In the test tube versus in the living system.
In Vitro
Organism using an organic compound as a carbon source.
Heterotroph
An organism genetically different from its parent.
Mutant
Organic compound composed of many amino acids joined together by peptide bonds.
Protein
Having many forms.
Pleomorphic
The protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid core of a virus.
Capsid
A disease caused by the exotoxin produced by Clostridum tetani.
Tetanus
Relating to a system; relating to the entire organism instead of a part.
Systemic
Diarrhea plus blood and mucus in the stood; related to inflammation of the alimentary tract.
Dysentery
The means by which a pathogenic organism enters the body to produce disease.
Portal of Enterance
An agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores.
Bactericide
“Blood-loving” genus name.
Hemophilus
Not productive of disease.
Nonpathogenic
Substance that enters into combination with cells and complement to produce dissolution of cells (for example, hemolysin).
Amboceptor
Loss of virulence of a pathogen. Generally due to overgrowth of non-virulent strains in laboratory culture; these strains are often used as vaccines.
Attenuation of Virulence
Within the cell.
Intracellular
Transfer of infection by means of inanimate objects; contaminated fingers, water, food, and fomites.
Indirect Contact
Produced or arising from within the organism.
Endogenous
Complex carbohydrate consisting of many monosaccharide molecules.
Polysaccharide
A membranous structure in bacteria, probably associated with the formation of cross walls.
Mesosome
Implies in the living system as opposed to in the test tube.
In Vivo
An individual who harbors and may disseminate pathogenic organisms but may or may not show symptoms of the disease.
Carrier
Self-nourishing bacteria that are capable of growing in the absence of organic compounds. Organisms that obtain carbon from carbon dioxide.
Autotrophic Bacteria
Infection caused by germs lodging and multiplying at one point in a tissue and remaining there.
Local Infection
Inflammatory enlargement and inflammation of a lymph node.
Bubo
Process whereby carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water in presence of light energy and chlorophyll.
Photosynthesis
A viral disease of the nervous system resulting in the loss of motor function. This disease is preventable by the oral Sabine vaccine.
Poliomyelitis
Composed of many cells.
Multicellular
The period of most rapid reproduction in the growth phases of a culture; the generation time is constant when plotted on a graph, and the log of the number of organism appears as a straight line.
Log Phase
Formation of pus.
Suppuration
Having a greater osmotic pressure than that of a reference solution.
Hypertonic Solution
Resistance resulting from having the disease or by receiving.
Active Immunity
An iron protein pigment in red blood cells; serves as any oxygen carrier.
Hemoglobin
Infection with pathogenic amebas.
Amebiasis
Vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of many hyphae.
Mycelium
German measles; three-day measles.
Rubella
Differential stain that provides for grouping of bacteria either as gram-positive or gram-negative. If the organisms retains the initial stain after contact with a decolorizer, it is gram-positive; if the organism loses the stain after exposure to a decolorizer, it is gram-negative.
Gram-Stain
An RNA molecule containing a base sequence complementary to DNA; directs the synthesis of protein.
Messenger RNA (MRNA)
Fluid portion of the circulating blood; the fluid portion of clotted blood is known as serum.
Plasma
Tuberculin skin test. A dilution of purified material prepared from culture filtrates of tubercle bacilli is injected into the skin. An inflamed area at the site of injection that reaches a maximum in about 48 hours provides a positive test indicating that the person has been previously infected with the bacillus.
Mantoux Test
Systemic study of the form
and structure of living organisms.
Morphology
Immunity resulting from the passage of performed antibodies from the mother to the fetus or newborn.
Natural Passive Immunity
A toxin modified so that it is no longer toxic but is still able to induce antibody formation.
Toxoid
Science that deals with the study of protozoa.
Protozoology
Able to resist infectious disease.
Immune
An individual biological unit capable of independent function and dividing to form two new identical cells.
Cell
Condition most favorable.
Optimum
Science that studies living macroorganisms, both animals and plants.
Biology
The viral nucleic acid surrounded by its protein coat.
Nucleocapsid
An infectious virus particle.
Virion
A group of related species.
Genus
Scientific study of microorganisms and their effect on other living organisms.
Microbiology
Branch of biology treating the arrangement and classification of animals and plants.
Taxonomy
The capacity to cause death.
Lethal
Fluid that exudes when the blood coagulates; plasma of the blood from which the plasma protein fibrinogen has been removed.
Serum
The harmonious action of two microorganisms producing an effect that neither could produce alone.
Synergism
An organism that supports a parasite.
Host
The engulfment of bacteria and other foreign particles by white blood cells or phagocytes.
Phagocytosis
Initial lesion in the primary stage of acquired syphilis.
Chancre
Micrometer
Micron
Systematic study of the functions of living organisms.
Physiology
The destruction of infectious agents by chemical or physical means directly applied to an inanimate object.
Disinfection
The membrane that separates the nuclear material from the cytoplasm of the cell, it is only found in eucaryotic cells.
Nuclear Membrane
An organism that can only survive on dead or decaying organic matter.
Strick (Obligate) Saprophyte
Agglutination test using killed Salmonella typhi organisms and the patient’s blood serum; a diagnostic aid in typhoid fever.
Widal Test
Abscess of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Boil
A leukocyte, often involve in antibody formation.
Lymphocyte
- Organism living in the temperature range around that of warm-blooded animals (25-40 degrees Centigrade).
- Bacteria that prefers moderate temperatures and develops best at temperatures between 25-40 degrees C.
Mesophile
An antibody that induces lysis.
Lysin
A virus present in a cell, yet not causing any detectable effect.
Latent Virus
An agent destructive to viruses.
Viricide
An envelope of polysaccharide or protein that surrounds certain microorganisms.
Capsule
Substances, inorganic and organic, that actually pass through the cytoplasmic membrane and provide the direct requirements of a cell. Food is the raw material from which these are derived.
Nutrients
The state of having a single polar flagellum.
Monotrichous
Inflammation of the urethra.
Urethritis
Fimbaiae; filamentous appendages, shorter, straighter, and considerably smaller than flagella; they appear to make bacteria more adhesive. When used for sex, this is essential for genetic transfer in bacterial conjugation.
Pili
A carbon compound.
Organic Compound
Inclusion bodies found in certain cells of the brain of an animal with rabies; diagnostic for rabies.
Negri Bodies
An organism that is capable of living in the absence of free oxygen (air); live only in the absence of oxygen; grow either with or without oxygen.
Anaerobe
A harmful antigen-antibody reaction, usually caused by a foreign antigen in food, pollen, or chemicals.
Allergy (Hypersensitivity)
Plant life occurring or adapted for living in a specific environment.
Indigenous Flora
Complex chemical substances closely associated with transmission of genetic characteristics of cells; the two identified are ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid; cells of bacteria and higher organisms contain both RNA and DNA; viruses contain one or the other but not both.
Nucleic Acids
A medium that will select out certain organisms while inhibiting others; e.g. a medium containing bile salts is selective for pathogenic enteric bacteria.
Selective Medium
Originating outside an organ or part.
Exogenous Infection
Pressure that develops when two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane.
Osmotic Pressure
An intracellular, infectious parasite, capable of living and reproducing only in living cells.
Virus
Rupture of a cell resulting in loss of cell contents.
Lysis
Disease producing.
Pathogenic
Any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted.
Fomite
Inflammation of the middle ear.
Otitis Media
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
Simple sugar, usually consists of five or six carbons.
Monosaccharide
Short, hair-like structures that provide for movement; characteristic of Protozoa class Ciliata.
Cilia (Cilium)
Process of completely removing or destroying all life forms or their products on or in a substances.
Sterilization
Composed of but a single cell.
Unicellular
A protective chemical usually a soluble protein that is produced by cells infected with a virus. It is cell specific but not virus specific.
Interferon
A small oval body within the cell that attaches itself to an initiation site on the m-RNA resulting in the synthesis of a protein molecule. Consist of protein and RNA.
Ribosome
A test to distinguish colonies of Neisseria from some other bacteria; it does not differentiate Neisseria’s species. Neisseria are oxidase positive and the colonies first turn pink, then dark red, and finally black.
Oxidase Test
A substance that will cause the destruction of red blood corpuscles, especially antibodies or enzyme-like substances produced by bacteria.
Hemolysin
Multicellular parasites.
Metazoa
Disease caused by fungi.
Mycosis
Small, aerobic, gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacilli; ferment lactose, with acid and gas production. Normal inhabitants of lower intestine.
Coliform Bacteria
Virulent; going from bad to worse; a tumor of this kind is one that infiltrates surrounding tissues, spreads to distant parts of the body, has a tendency to recur after removal, and if left untreated always causes death.
Malignant
Inflammation of the bone marrow.
Osteomyelitis
The biochemical process involved in the synthesis of cell constituents from simpler molecules, usually requiring energy. Building process of living cells.
Anabolism
Inflammation of the lungs.
Pneumonia
A single strand or filament of a fungus, composing the mycelium.
Hyphae
Transfer of genetic material from a donor to recipient bacterial cell, with bacteriophage as a carrier.
Tranduction
Increased sensitivity, or allergy, to foreign materials.
Hypersensitivity
Lacking disease-producing ability.
Avirulent
Active, motile, feeding state of a protozoan organism.
Trophozoite
Febrile disease accompanied by a skin eruption.
Exanthema
A small proteinaceous particle that is resistant to most procedures that modify nucleic acids.
Prion
Clumping of cells in suspension by action of a specific antibody.
Agglutination
Antibody that causes precipitation of its soluble antigen.
Precipitin
Inflammation of the brain.
Encephalitis
Immunity acquired as a result of receiving performed antibodies.
Passive Immunity
Glycoprotein substance developed in response to, and interacting specifically with an antigen.
Antibody (Immunoglobulin)
Flagella that arise at ends of cells. Types: monotrichous (single flagellum), amphitrichous (single flaggelum at each end), and lopotrichous (tuft of flagella at one or both poles).
Polar Flagellation
Suffix denoting inflammation.
Itis
Multicellular fungi.
Molds
To render unclean; as used in bacteriology, to render unclean by adding harmful substances other than bacteria.
Pollution
A subunit of the protein capsid of a virus.
Capsomere
A genus of bacteria containing gram-negative rods, which form a chain-like colony.
Streptobacilli
A disease caused by a retrovirus called HTLV III or LAV or HIV. This virus results in destruction of the T4-helper cells and loss of immunity to most opportunistic infections.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
Sexual method of reproduction involving contact between mating cells; in bacteria, genetic material is transferred from donor to recipient cell through the actual contact of the two cells.
Conjugation
Chemical added to the dye to make it stain more intensely.
Mordant
Producing color, this colony is a pigmented colony.
Chromogenic
Study of objects by means of a microscope.
Microscopy
The ability of an organism to be pathogenic by producing a toxin or poison that causes damage to the host.
Toxigenicity
Relative power and degree of pathogenicity possessed by organisms to produce disease.
Virulence
Reaction of the tissue to injury; characterized by localized pain, heat, redness, and swelling.
Inflammation
An infection transmitted through the air, by water, food, objects, direct contact, or by insects or animals.
Contagious Disease
“Spreading factor”; enzyme 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
Total of the chemical changes whereby the nutrition and functional activities of the body are maintained.
Metabolism
Resistance resulting from infection with a specific microorganism (active) or by receiving antibodies from mother (passive).
Acquired Immunity
Fluid that exudes when blood clots; blood plasma without fibrinogen.
Blood Serum
The study of immunity, the protection from disease through specific antibodies.
Immunology
The blood serum protein containing antibodies responsible for protection through acquired humoral immunity.
Immunoglobulin
Infection with an organism of the genus Salmonella; manifestations may be varied.
Salmonellosis
Relating to or caused by the presence of pathogenic organisms or their toxins.
Septic
One-celled organisms in the kingdom Protista- most are unicellular although some are colonial.
Protozoa
Gram-positive cocci that occur in chains.
Streptococci
A relationship in which organisms of two different species live in close association to the mutual benefit of each.
Mutualism
Any rod-shaped microorganism.
Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)
A white blood cell, usually a phagocyte.
Leucocyte
Bacteria that retain a red color when treated with an acid alcohol after being stained with aniline dye.
Acid-Fast Bacteria
A toxin produced by a microorganism and excreted into its surrounding medium, generally protein in nature.
Exotoxin
Prefix meaning large (in contrast to micro-)
Macro
Organism that lives on dead organic matter.
Saprophyte
Science that studies animal life. A subdivision of biology.
Zoology
An arthropod vector in which the disease causing organism multiplies or develops within the arthropod prior to becoming infective for a susceptible individual.
Biological Vector
An organism that prefers an anaerobic environment but can utilize free oxygen if necessary.
Facultative Aerobe
An illness in which symptoms are so mild then it goes undetected and thus, undiagnosed.
Inapparent Infection
Lysis of red blood cells.
Hemolysis
Science that studies bacteria.
Bacteriology
A method for observing bacterial motility in a liquid medium.
Hanging Drop Preparation
The biochemical process involved in the breakdown of organic compounds,usually lending to the production of energy.
Catabolism
The reduction of microbial numbers to safe levels as judged by public health standards.
Sanitize
Branch of science that deals with sera, especially immune sera.
Serology
Smallpox.
Variola
Small yellow granules found in the pus from the lesions of actinomycosis.
Sulfur Granules
Area of science that studies rickettsia.
Rickettsiology
An agent that kills fungi and their spores.
Fungicide
The cellular enzymes produced in lysosomes. This chemical has known antibacterial properties.
Lysozyme
Material used to initiate a microbial culture.
Inoculum
Inflammation of the meninges.
Meningitis
Formaldehyde is a specific aqueous mixture of formaldehyde that contains 37% by weight, 40% by volume and 7% methyl alcohol.
Formalin
Temperature at which organisms grow best.
Optimum Temperature
A double bacillus, two being linked end to end to each other.
Diplobacilli
Jaundice
Icterus
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
Encephalomyelitis
The process of burning to ashes; e.g. sterilizing the inoculating loop in the Bunsen burner.
Incineration
Granules of deeply staining material found in certain bacteria.
Metachromatic Granules
Microorganisms that have become established in a given area; e.g. those organisms that have found a permanent home in some area of the human body.
Normal Flora
Fractional sterilization; exposure to live steam for 30 minutes each day for three successive days to kill vegetative cells.
Tyndallization
Bacteria that thrive best at high temperatures, between 40 degrees C and 70 degrees C.
Thermophile
Relating to the skin.
Cutaneous
Dilution or weakening of virulence of a microorganism, reducing or abolishing pathogenicity.
Attenuation
An interactive relationship between two organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits.
Parasitism
Chickenpox.
Varicella
A type of bacteria that is spherical or ovoid in form.
Coccus (pl. Cocci)
Destruction or inactivation of complement brought about by the combination of antigen, antibody, and complement; this is the basis of the tests for syphilis and certain other diseases.
Complement Fixation
Spherical cells that divided in three planes at right angles to each other to form cubical packets.
Sarcinae
Transfer of infection by insects in which the infectious agent is spread mechanically and undergoes no cycle of development in the body of the particular insect.
Mechanical (Vector) Transfer (of Infection)
Confined to one side.
Unilateral
Swelling and bursting of a cell when suspended in a hypotonic solution.
Plasmoptysis
Lacking a true nucleus in that no nuclear membrane separates the DNA from the cytoplasm.
Procaryotic
Disease that occurs continuously in a particular region but has low mortality.
Endemic
Disease of animals that may be secondarily transmitted to man.
Zoonosis (Zoonoses)
A genus of bacteria that are gram-positive organisms occurring in pairs.
Diplococcus (Streptococcus)
Disinfection procedures carried out at the end of an infectious period, this involves cleaning the entire area that may have been contaminated by the patient.
Terminal Disinfection
Living being, either animal or plant.
Organism
A disease transmitted from one individual to another by direct or indirect contact.
Communicable Disease
A microbe that can only survive in an area without oxygen present.
Strict (Obligate) Anaerobe
Self-lysis or disintegration of cells due to the action of their enzymes.
Autolysis
Skin test to detect susceptibility to diphtheria.
Schick Test
Many amino acids joined together by peptide bonds.
Polypeptide
A method of asexual reproduction in bacteria in which the cell splits into two parts, each of which develops into complete individuals.
Binary Fission
Random movement of bacterial cells and small particles due to bombardment by water molecules.
Brownian Movement
Consisting of small flat reddish spots in the skin.
Macular
A differential staining result where the bacterial smear is not decolorized with alcohol containing 3% HC1 after staining with carbol fuchsin.
Acid-Fast
Condition in which the products of the action of saprophytic bacteria on dead tissues are absorbed into the body and produce disease.
Sapremia
The symbiotic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment.
Commensalism
Unit of measurement for microorganisms; one equals 0.001 mm, or 1125,400 inch, (Replaces the term micron).
Micrometer
Mixture of eosin and methylene blue used to demonstrate blood cells and malarial parasites.
Wright’s Stain
A microbe that can only live in the presence of oxygen.
Strict (Obligate) Aerobe
An exotoxin that damages nerve tissue.
Neurotoxin
A test for evaluating the effectiveness of a disinfectant by comparing it with phenol under identical conditions.
Phenol Coefficient
Infection with two or more kinds of organisms.
Mixed Infection
A suspension or particles in air.
Aerosol
Agent produced by one organism that will destroy or inhibit another organism.
Antibiotic
A visible group of bacteria growing on a solid medium, presumably arising from a single microorganism.
Bacterial Colony
A large group of nonmotile, gram negative intracellular parasites.
Chlamydia
Ribonucleic acid one of the types of nucleic acids.
RNA
A microorganism that requires very little free oxygen.
Microaerophilic
An original infection from which a second one originates.
Primary Infection
Collection of lymphoid nodules packed together to form oblong elevations of the mucous membrane of the small intestine, their long axis corresponding to that of the intestine.
Peyer’s Patches
Heating to destroy pathogenic microbes in fluid such as milk, beer or wine. Methods: heating to 145 degrees F (62.9 degrees C) for 30 minutes (holding or LTH method); or heating to 161 degrees F (71.6 degrees C) for not less than 15 seconds (flash or HTST method). The heating process is followed by a rapid cooling of the liquid.
Pasteurization
Keeping a patient with a disease from contacting other people.
Isolation
Protozoan that moves by extruding finger-like processes (pseudopods).
Ameba (Amobae)
Passage of fluids or other substances through a membrane.
Osmosis
The prevention of sepsis by preventing or inhibiting the growth of causative microorganisms.
Antisepsis
A nutrient substance used to grow microorganisms; it may be liquid medium, or a solid medium which agar has been added.
Medium
The causative agent for AIDS.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs.
Drug-Fast
Subjective disturbances cause by disease that are felt or experienced by the patient but not directly measurable (for example pain- the patient fells it definitely, but it cannot be seen, heard or touched.
Symptoms
A disease which occurs occasionally or in scattered instances.
Sporadic
Long continued duration.
Chronic
Artificial food material upon which microorganisms are grown (cultured).
Culture Media (Medium)
Treatment of an infectious disease by drugs that act against the pathogen but do not harm the host.
Chemotherapy
Use of bacteriophages and their lytic properties to classify bacteria.
Phage Typing
Free of microorganisms that can cause contamination or infection.
Aseptic
A substance that destroys microorganisms.
Germicide
A population of genetically identical cells; a strain.
Clone
An infection that becomes systemic.
General Infection
A particular strain or kind of organism growing in a laboratory medium.
Culture
Inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva.
Keratoconjunctivitis
Agglutination test used as a diagnostic aid in certain rickettsial diseases; certain Proteus strains are used as the antigen with the patient’s blood serum.
Weil-Felix Test
An organism that requires free atmospheric oxygen for respiration.
Aerobe
Time interval between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms.
Incubation Period
Procedures used in handling cultures, media, and equipment so that only the desired organisms (if any) are present, with no contaminates.
Aseptic Technique
Affinity for the internal organs of the chest or abdomen.
Viscerotropic
A poisonous substance of plant, animal, bacteria, or fungal origin.
Toxin
Having the capacity to do something that is not compulsory, in particular having the ability to live or adapt to certain conditions.
Facultative Bacteria
Between the cell.
Intercellular
The process of introducing oxygen so that organic material can be degraded by aerobic bacteria. The procedure is used in sewage treatment.
Aeration
Blood distribution throughout the body of poisonous products of bacteria growing in a focal or local site, thus producing generalized symptoms.
Toxemia
Immunity developed by certain cells that have acquired an increased ability to ingest or destroy specific foreign substances.
Cellular Immunity
A process whereby one cell is formed without the fusion of two cells; means without sex.
Asexual
Class of organic chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; to this class belong the sugars, starches and cellulose.
Carbohydrates
A dermatotropic viral disease causing blister-like skin lesions on the oral or genital regions.
Herpes
Real or genuine disease producing organism.
True Pathogen
Infection conveyed by the spray thrown off from the mouth and nose in talking or coughing.
Droplet Infection
The inability of a host to produce a normal immune response to antigenic stimuli.
Immunodeficiency
Microscopic unicellular organism.
Microbe
A genus of gram-positive, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters.
Staphylococcus
The study of viruses and viral diseases.
Virology
Culture containing two or more kinds of organisms.
Mixed Culture
The complete cellular contents: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus; usually considered to be the living portion of the cell, this excluding those layers peripheral to the plasma membrane.
Protoplasm
Bacteria that prefer cold, thriving at temperatures between 0 degrees C and 25 degrees C.
Psychrophile
A parasite that is completely dependent on its living host for survival.
Strick (Obligate) Parasite
Shrinking of a cell when suspended in a hypertonic solution.
Plasmolysis
A chemical or physical agent that kills disease-causing microorganisms generally used on inanimate objects.
Disinfectant
To kill bacteria.
Bactericidal
A lung infection caused by a protozoan parasite that is a common consequence of AIDS.
Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Certain requirements that must be met before a given microorganism can be considered the cause of a certain disease.
Koch’s Postulates
Having a greater osmotic pressure inside the cell than outside the cell. Causes movement of water inside the cell resulting in plasmoptysis or swelling of the cell.
Hypertonic (Referring to the cell)
