Microbiology Glossary

107 terms

Aerobe: Organism requiring oxygen.
Anaerobe: Organism not requiring oxygen.
Antibiotic: Substance killing or inhibiting bacteria.
Antibiotic Resistance: Ability to survive antibiotics.
Antiseptic: Agent preventing microbial growth.
Aseptic Technique: Methods preventing contamination.
Bacteria: Single-celled prokaryotic organisms.
Bacterial Genetics: Study of bacterial genes.
Bactericidal: Killing bacteria.
Bacteriophage: Virus infecting bacteria.
Bacteriostatic: Inhibiting bacterial growth.
Beta-lactam: Class of antibiotics.
Biofilm: Community of surface-attached microbes.
Biosafety Level: Laboratory safety classification.
Broad Spectrum: Effective against many organisms.
Capsid: Protein shell of virus.
Capsule: Protective layer outside bacterial cell wall.
Carrier: Infected individual without symptoms.
Cell Membrane: Selective barrier of cell.
Cell Wall: Rigid outer layer of microbial cells.
Classification: Organizing organisms into groups.
Colony: Visible group of microorganisms.
Colony Forming Unit: Visible bacterial colony source.
Commensalism: Relationship benefiting one organism.
Conjugation: Transfer of DNA between bacteria.
Containment: Preventing pathogen spread.
Contamination: Presence of unwanted microorganisms.
Culture: Growth of microorganisms in laboratory.
Death Phase: Period of population decline.
Decontamination: Removing contamination.
Differential Medium: Medium distinguishing different organisms.
Disinfection: Removal of pathogenic organisms.
Emerging Disease: New or increasing disease.
Endemic: Constant presence of disease.
Endotoxin: Toxin from bacterial cell wall.
Enrichment: Promoting growth of specific organisms.
Epidemic: Disease outbreak in population.
Eukaryote: Organism with membrane-bound nucleus.
Exotoxin: Secreted bacterial toxin.
Facultative: Organism growing with or without oxygen.
Flagellum: Whip-like structure for movement.
Fomite: Object transmitting pathogens.
Fungus: Eukaryotic organism including yeasts and molds.
Generation Time: Time for population to double.
Gene Transfer: Movement of genetic material.
Gram Negative: Bacteria not retaining crystal violet.
Gram Positive: Bacteria retaining crystal violet stain.
Gram Stain: Bacterial identification technique.
Growth Medium: Substance supporting microbial growth.
Growth Phase: Stage of microbial population growth.
Host: Organism harboring microorganism.
Identification: Determining organism identity.
Incubation Period: Time between exposure and symptoms.
Infection: Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms.
Infectious Dose: Number of organisms causing infection.
Isolation: Separating organisms from mixture.
Koch's Postulates: Criteria for disease causation.
Lag Phase: Initial period before growth.
Log Phase: Period of rapid growth.
Lysogenic Cycle: Viral DNA integration without killing.
Lytic Cycle: Viral reproduction killing host.
Microbiome: Community of microorganisms in environment.
Microorganism: Microscopic living organism.
Microscopy: Study using microscope.
Minimum Inhibitory Concentration: Lowest effective antibiotic level.
Narrow Spectrum: Effective against few organisms.
Normal Flora: Microorganisms normally present in body.
Nosocomial: Hospital-acquired infection.
One Health: Human-animal-environment health connection.
Opportunistic Infection: Infection by normally harmless organism.
Pandemic: Worldwide disease outbreak.
Parasite: Organism living on or in another organism.
Parasitism: Relationship harming host organism.
Pathogen: Disease-causing microorganism.
Pathogenicity: Ability to cause disease.
Pili: Hair-like structures on bacterial surface.
Plasmid: Extra-chromosomal genetic element.
Plate Count: Method counting viable cells.
Prion: Infectious protein particle.
Prokaryote: Organism without membrane-bound nucleus.
Pure Culture: Growth of single species.
Quorum Sensing: Bacterial communication system.
Reemerging Disease: Previously controlled disease returning.
Reservoir: Source of infectious agent.
Resistance: Ability to survive antimicrobial agents.
Respiration: Aerobic energy production.
Selective Medium: Medium allowing specific organism growth.
Serial Dilution: Stepwise sample dilution.
Serotype: Variant based on surface antigens.
Spore: Resistant dormant form of microorganism.
Staining: Technique making cells visible.
Stationary Phase: Period of balanced growth and death.
Sterilization: Complete elimination of microorganisms.
Strain: Variant within species.
Symbiosis: Beneficial relationship between organisms.
Taxonomy: Science of organism classification.
Toxin: Harmful substance produced by microbe.
Transduction: Viral transfer of DNA.
Transformation: Uptake of external DNA.
Transmission: Transfer of pathogen between hosts.
Vector: Organism transmitting pathogens.
Viral Envelope: Outer layer of some viruses.
Viroid: Plant pathogenic RNA.
Virulence: Degree of pathogen harmfulness.
Virulence Factor: Component contributing to disease.
Virus: Non-cellular infectious agent requiring host cell.
Zoonosis: Disease transmitted from animals.