Untitled Flashcards Set

Promoter

Site that binds RNA polymerase for transcription.

Operator

Repressor/activator binding site that regulates gene expression.

Structural Genes

Encode enzymes/proteins involved in metabolic pathways.

Regulatory Gene

Produces repressor/activator proteins that regulate transcription.

Inducible Operon

An operon that is normally off and activated by an inducer, such as lactose.

Repressible Operon

An operon that is normally on and deactivated by the end product, such as tryptophan.

Transcription

Process in which RNA polymerase synthesizes mRNA using DNA as a template.

Genome

Full set of genes.

Chromosome

DNA structure carrying genes.

Gene

Unit of heredity coding for a protein.

Genetic Code

Translation of DNA/RNA into proteins.

Genomics

Study of whole genomes.

Transformation

Uptake of DNA from the environment by a bacterium.

Conjugation

Direct DNA transfer between bacteria via a pilus.

Transduction

DNA transfer via bacteriophages.

Biocide/Germicide

Substance that kills microbes.

Sterilization

Process that kills all microorganisms.

Disinfection

Process that kills most but not all microorganisms.

Antisepsis

Process that kills microorganisms on living tissues.

Microbial Control Agents

Agents that disrupt membranes, denature proteins, or damage DNA.

Selective Toxicity

Characteristic of antimicrobial drugs that selectively target pathogens without harming the host.

Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics

Antibiotics effective against a wide range of microbes.

Superinfection

Infection caused by antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Nosocomial Infection

Infection acquired in a healthcare setting.

Exotoxins

Secreted proteins that cause damage to the host.

Endotoxins

Lipids that trigger immune response, part of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria.

Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms

Strategies employed by microorganisms to resist the effects of antimicrobial drugs, including enzyme production and target alteration.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Technique used to amplify DNA by repeating cycles of denaturation, annealing, and extension.

Zoonotic Infections

Diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Incubation Stage

Initial period of an infectious disease before symptoms appear.

Vector

Organism that transmits diseases to humans, such as mosquitoes.