Microbiology

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

The most advanced stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus and resulting in low resistance to disease

Airborne

referring to the transmission of disease from an infected person propelling pathogens through the air on particles smaller than 5 microns in size to a susceptible person's eyes, nose or mouth. Airborne particles are transmitted as aerosols and can be suspended in the air for long periods of time.

Bloodborne

Referring to direct contact through nonintact skin or mucous membranes with blood, body fluids, or tissue from an infected person

chemotherapy

course of treatment with drugs that destroy or inhibit the growth and division of malignant (cancerous) cells; any chemical agents that treat disease, but in common usage generally mean cancer treatment

contact

referring to the transmission of diseases by the physical transfer of pathogens from a contaminated object to a susceptible host's body surface

droplet

Referring to the transmission of diseases from an infected person propelling pathogens through the air on particles larger than 5 microns in size to a susceptible person's eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplet transmission is usually limited to a distance of one meter or 3 feet.

Entreal

within or by way of gastrointestinal tract

enzyme

a chemical substance in animals and plants that causes or facilities natural processes such as digestion

Fomite

any nonliving object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms

gastrointestinal tract

the organs and structures of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus

genetic

involving genes, the parts of a cell that control or influence the appearance, growth, and other characteristics of a living thing

immune system

the organs and structures that regulate the body's immunity, or resistance to disease

infection

the invasion and proliferation of pathogens in body tissue

ion

an atom or group of atoms that has a positive or negative electric charge

parasite

an organism that lives in, on, or at the expense of another organism without controlling to the host's survival

pathogen

disease-causing micro-organism

pharyngitis

inflammation of the pharynx, the back of the throat between the mouth and the nasal cavities

pneumonia

inflammation of the lungs

superficial

toward the surface of the body

vector

a living thing that carries pathogens

cell membrane

thin, flexible barrier that surrounds all cells; regulates what enters and leaves the cell (selectively permeable)

Cell wall

strong, supporting layer around the cell membrane in some cells (bacteria cells)

Nucleus

round structure that is inside the cell near the center, it's the
largest organelle in the cell and controls the cell functions

What does the nucleus contain?

chromosomes made of DNA

Nuclear membrane

aka nuclear envelope, is the structure that surrounds the nucleus; it contains pores that allow larger compounds to move in and out of the cell nucleus

cytoplasm

inside the cell that contains other organelles that perform the functions of cells

what are the components of cytoplasm?

water, proteins, ions, and nutrients

ribosome

Cytoplasmic organelles at which proteins are synthesized.

endoplasmic reticulum

provides networks of passageways for moving various substances within the cytoplasm

mitochondrion

organelles that gives the cells energy

lysosome

An organelle containing digestive enzymes

centriole

plays a role in cell division, with each pain in the cell making sure to divide the chromosomes equally to the cells that results from the reproduction process

golgi apparatus

synthesizes carbohydrates and sorts the proteins the ribosome is supporting; also has some storage function prior to preparing some substances for removal from the cells

peroxisome

an organelle in the cytoplasm that contains enzymes

flagellum

a tail-like appendage that allows the cell to move in a swimming like motion

cilia

hair like projections that help move substances through various tracts and paths in the body

bacterium

single-cell micro-organism that reproduces rapidly and causes many infections

common shapes of bacteria

coccus (round), spirillum (spiral-shaped), vibrio (shaped like a comma), and bacillus (rod-shaped)

virus

a tiny micro-organism that causes many infections and diseases (require living tissue to survive and grow); actually a parasite

fungus

micro-organism that grows on or in animals, plants, humans, and food, including yeasts and molds

protozoa

a single-cell parasite that can be microscopic or large enough to see without a microscope. protozoa thrive in damp environments and in bodies of standing water. they replicate rapidly inside a living host.

adenovirus

disease: pharyngitis
transmission: droplet, direct contact

Epstein-Barr virus

disease: mononucleosis
transmission: contact with saliva

Hepatitis A

disease: hepatitis A
transmission: fecal-oral

Hepatitis B

disease: hepatitis B
transmission: bloodborne, sexual

Hepatitis C

disease: hepatitis C
transmission: bloodborne

herpes simplex

disease: cold sores, genital herpes
transmission: contact with blister fluid, sexual

human immunodeficiency

disease: AIDS
transmission: bloodborne, sexual

Humanpapilloma virus

disease: genital warts
transmission: sexual

influenza

disease: influenza
transmission: airborne, droplet

measles

disease: measles
transmission: airborne, droplet

molluscipoxvirus

disease: molluscum contagiosum warts
transmission: contact

mumps

disease: mumps
transmission: airborne, droplet

parvovirus

disease: fifth disease
transmission: droplet, bloodborne

rabies

disease: rabies
transmission: vector (infected animal)

rhinovirus

disease: common cold
transmission: droplet, contact, fomites

rotavirus

disease: rotavirus
transmission: fecal-oral

rubella

disease: German measles
transmission: airborne, droplet

varicella-zoster

disease: chickenpox, shingles
transmission: airborne, droplet, contact with blister fluid

variola major

disease: smallpox
transmission: contact, fomites

Ascaris lumbricoides

disease: roundworm
transmission: contact with contaminated soil

Cimex parasites

Disease: bed bugs
Transmission: contact with infested bedding or furniture

Diphyllobothrium latum

Disease: tapeworm
Transmission: foodborne (raw, infected fish)

Enterobius vermicularis

Disease: pinworms
Transmission: fecal-oral

Pendiculus humanus capitis

disease: pediculosis (head lice)

Phthirus pubis

Disease: pubic lice ("crabs")
Transmission: contact with infested pubic hair

Sarcoptes scabiei

disease: scabies
transmission: contact

Aspergillus fumigatus

disease: aspergillosis
transmission: airborne

Candida albicans

Disease: candidiasis (thrush, vaginal yeast infection)
Transmission: overgrowth of normal flora, not usually sexual

Crytococcus neoformans

Disease: Crytococcosis

Transmission: Contract with poultry droppings

Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans (dermatophytes)

disease: ringworm
transmission: contact

Histoplasma capsulatum

disease: histoplasmosis
transmission: airborne

Pneumocystis jiroveci, pneumocystis carinii

disease: pneumocystis pneumonia
transmission: airborne

Entmoeba histolytica

disease: amebiasis
transmission: fecal-oral

Giardia intestinalis (lamblia)

Disease: giardiasis
Transmission: fecal-oral

Plasmodium parasites

disease: malaria
transmission: vector (mosquito)

Toxoplasma gondii

disease: toxoplasmosis
transmission: foodborne, vector (animal), transplacental (pregnant patient to fetus)

Trichinella spiralis

disease: trichinosis
transmission: foodborne (undercooked pork)

Trichomonas vaginalis

disease: trichomoniasis
transmission: sexual

Bacillus anthracis

disease: anthrax
transmission: vector, contact with or eating undercooked meat from infected animals, spore inhalation

Bordetella pertussis

disease: whooping cough
transmission: airborne

Borrelia burgdorferi

disease: Lyme disease
transmission: vector (tick)

Camplyobacter jejuni

disease: food poisoning
transmission: contaminated food and fluids

Chlamydia trachomatis

disease: chlamydia
transmission: sexual

Clostridium botulinum

disease: botulism
transmission: foodborne

Clostridum difficile

disease: colitis
transmission: fecal-oral

Clostridum perfringens

disease: gas gangrene
transmission: contact (wounds)

Clostridium tetani

disease: tetanus
transmission: contact through a deep cut

Corynebacterium diphtheriae

disease: diphtheria
transmission: droplet

Escherichia coli

disease: diarrhea
transmission: foodborne

Group B Streptococcus

disease: meningitis
transmission: droplet

Haemophilus influenzae

Disease: pneumonia, epiglottitis meningitis

Transmission: droplets

Helicobacter pylori

Disease: peptic ulcer disease
Transmission: fecal-oral, oral-anal, possibly others

Legionella pneumophila

Disease: Legionnaires disease
Transmission: water aerosol

Listeria monocytogenes

disease: meningitis
transmission: droplet

Mycobacterium leprae

disease: leprosy
transmission: airborne, droplet

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Disease: tuberculosis
Transmission: airborne, droplet

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

disease: pneumonia
transmission: droplet

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Disease: gonorrhea
Transmission: sexual

Neisseria meningitidis

disease: meningitis
transmission: droplet