MICROBIOLOGY [COMPS]

an acquired, abnormal immune response to a substance (allergen) that does not normally cause a reaction

Allergy (Hypersensitivity)

mutual opposition or contrary action. The inhibition of one microorganism by another

Antagonism

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

Antibody

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

Antigen

the prevention or inhibiting of the growth of causative microorganisms

Antisepsis

dilution or weakening of virulence of a microorganism, reducing or abolishing pathogenicity

Attenuation

self nourishing bacteria (can utilize CO2 as their only carbon source)

Autotrophic bacteria

rod shaped bacteria.

Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)

the presence of bacteria in the blood

Bacteremia

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

Bacteria

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

Bacterial colony

an agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores

Bactericide

science that studies bacteria

Bacteriology

Inhibits bacteria growth

Bacteriostatic

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. (The most common type of reproduction in bacteria)

Binary fission

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

see hypochlorites

Bleaches (hypochlorites)

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

Capsule

a large group of nonmotile, gram-negative intracellular parasites. (Chlamydia trachomatis causes the most common sexually transmitted disease – NGU)

Chlamydia

the type of bacteria that is spherical or ovoid in form

Coccus (pl. Cocci)

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

Commensalism

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

Communicable

another name (historical) for tuberculosis

Consumption

the act of introducing disease germs or infectious material into an area or substance

Contamination

It affects the Respiratory System

Coryza causes the common cold (Rhinitis – inflammation of the nasal passages)

a double bacillus, two being linked end to end. Morax-Axenfeld bacillus a cause of conjunctivitis is typical of this form

Diplobacilli

a genus of bacteria that occur in pairs

Diplococcus

a chemical or physical agent that kills disease-causing microorganisms

Disinfectant

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

Disinfection

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

Drug-fast

disease that occurs continuously in a particular region but has low mortality

Endemic

produced or arising from within a cell or organism

Endogenous infection

a thick-walled spore within a bacterium (resistant to environments that kill growing cells and can remain dormant for hundreds of years)

Endospores

bacterial toxin confined within the cell wall 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

originating outside an organ or part

Exogenous infections

a toxin produced by a microorganism and excreted into its surrounding medium

Exotoxin

a bacteria having the capacity to do something that is not compulsory, in particular having the ability to live or adapt to certain conditions

Facultative

an organism that prefers an oxygen environment but is capable of living and growing in its absence

Facultative anaerobe

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 aerobe

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

Facultative saprophyte

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

any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted.

Fomite

a substance that kills fungi

Fungicide

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

Fungus (pl. fungi)

an infection that becomes systemic

General infection

a substance that destroys microorganisms

Germicide

organisms that must obtain their nourishment from complex organic matter

Heterotrophic bacteria (other than self nourishing)

see allergy

Hypersensitivity (allergy)

chlorine containing compounds

Hypochlorites (bleaches)

synonymous with "normal flora" indicates the microbial population that lives with the host in a healthy condition

Indigenous flora

the entry, establishment and multiplication of pathogenic organisms within a host; 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

Infection

a substance that kills insects

Insecticide

a compound consisting of iodine combined with a carrier, such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, often used as a preoperative skin disinfectant.

Iodophors

a substance that kills insect larva

Larvacide

infection caused by germs lodging and multiplying at one point in a tissue and remaining there

Local infection

temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place

Maximum temperature

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

Mechanical vector

bacteria that prefer moderate temperature and develop best at temperatures between 25C and 40 C

Mesophile

a microorganism that requires very little free oxygen

Microaerophilic

scientific study of microorganisms and their effect on other living organisms

Microbiology

temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place

Minimum temperature

infection caused by two or more organisms

Mixed infection

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

Mutualism

the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi

Mycology

bacteria of the Mycoplasma genus that are found in humans and have no cell wall; the smallest free-living organisms presently known being intermediate in size between viruses and bacteria

Mycoplasmas

organisms that are free living and relationships are not required for survival

Non-Symbiotic

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

Opportunist

temperature at which organisms grow best

Optimum temperature

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

Osmotic pressure

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

an interactive relationship between two organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits

Parasitism

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

Pathogenicity

the "first" infection that a host has after a period of health

Primary infection

small proteinaceous infectious agents (particles) which almost certainly do not have a nucleic acid genome and therefore resist inactivation by procedures that modify nucleic acids. Prion diseases are often called spongiform encephalopathies because of the post mortem appearance of the brain with large vacuoles in the cortex and cerebellum

Prion

one celled organisms of the Kingdom

Protozoa

most are unicellular although some are colonist

Protista

science that deals with the study of protozoa

Protozoology

bacteria that prefer cold, thriving at temperatures between 0 C and 25 C

Psychrophile

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

Rickettsia

area of science that studies Rickettsia

Rickettsiology

microbes that live upon dead and decaying organic matter

Saprotroph

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

Secondary infection

condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in blood

Septicemia

a genus of spiral bacteria having a corkscrew shape with a rigid cell wall and hair-like projections called flagella that assist in movement

Spirillum (p1. Spirilla)

a genus of bacteria having a flexible cell wall but no flagella in the traditional sense Movement in these organisms occurs by contractions (undulating) of long filaments (endoflagella) that run the length of the cell

Spirochete

a disease which occurs occasionally or in scattered instances

Sporadic

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

Staphylococcus

a process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and/or their products on or in a substance

Sterilization

rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains; a genus of bacteria containing gram negative rods which form a chain like colony

Streptobacilli

spherical shaped bacteria occurring in chains

Streptococci

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

Strict (obligate) aerobe

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

Strict (obligate) anaerobe

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

Strict (obligate) parasite

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

Strict (obligate) saprophyte

organisms live in close nutritional relationships; required by one or both members.

Symbiotic

the harmonious action of two or more microorganisms producing an effect that neither could produce alone

Synergism

grouping of four spherical shaped cells

Tetracocci

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

Thermophile

the presence of toxins in the blood

Toxemia