Principles of biomedical science 3.1 review

outbreak

A sudden rise in the incidence of a disease

epidemic

regional outbreak of a disease

Pandemic

an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents

endemic

native or confined to a particular region or people; characteristic of or prevalent in a field

nosocomial infection

an infection acquired during hospitalization

epidemiologist

identifies and treats diseases as they occur in a group of people

infection

Contamination or invasion of body tissue by pathogenic organisms

host

An organism on which a parasite lives.

disease

An abnormal state in which the body is not functioning normally

Pathogen

a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease

microbe

An organism invisible to the naked eye

Prion

protein particles that cause disease

Virus

A tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living

Bacteria

single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; prokaryotes

prokaryotes

A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

Protists

A eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal

Fungi

A kingdom made up of nongreen, eukaryotic organisms that have no means of movement, reproduce by using spores, and get food by breaking down substances in their surroundings and absorbing the nutrients

helminth

A parasitic worm (as a tapeworm, liver fluke, ascarid, or leech).

susceptible host

a person likely to get an infection or disease

Reservoir host

infected organism (usually an animal) which makes the parasite available for transmission to other hosts

chain of infection

infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host

indirect contact

Exposure or transmission of disease from one person to another by contact with a contaminated object.

innate immunity

Immunity that is present before exposure and effective from birth. Responds to a broad range of pathogens.

acquired immunity

immunity that the body develops after it overcomes a disease

Antigen

substance that triggers an immune response

T cells

Type of white blood cell that offers protection against microbes

B cell

A lymphocyte that produces proteins (antibodies) that help destroy pathogens. Matures in bone marrow

antibody

a protein made by B cells that works to destroy pathogens

vaccine

A harmless variant or derivative of a pathogen that stimulates a host's immune system to mount defenses against the pathogen

herd immunity

the resistance to the spread of a contagious disease within a population that results if a sufficiently high proportion of individuals are immune to the disease

Morphology

study of form (words)

Metabolism

All of the chemical reactions that occur within an organism

isolation streak

Method used to isolate individual cells on an agar plate

aseptic technique

a method used to prevent contamination with microorganisms

Microbiologist

An expert in microbiology

Coccus

round spherical-shaped bacteria

Bacilus

Rod shaped bacteria

Spirillum (spirilla)

curved or spiral shaped bacteria

peptidoglycan

A protein-carbohydrate compound that makes the cell walls of bacteria rigid

Gram stain

Used to classify prokaryotes based on cell wall composition. Important for antibiotics some antibiotics work on one but not the other.

gram negative

Pink in color

gram positive

Purple color one wall but thicker peptidoglycan

Prokaryote

A unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and membrane bound organelles

Nucleoid

A dense region of DNA in a prokaryotic cell.

capsule

A sticky layer that surrounds the cell walls of some bacteria

cell wall

A rigid structure that surrounds the cell membrane and provides support to the cell

cell membrane

A cell structure that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell.

Plasmid

a genetic structure in a cell that can replicate independently of the chromosomes

Pili

A hair like appendage found in the surface of bacteria

Ribosome

site of protein synthesis

Flagella

A long, whip-like filament that helps in cell motility. Many bacteria are flagellated, and sperm are flagellated.

Diplo-

Prefix for colony arrangement; cells are arranged in pairs

Staphylo-

Prefix for colony arrangement; yellow, round, opaque, large bundles/groups

Strepto-

Prefix for colony arrangement; smooth, chain like arrangement