Microbiology Chapter 13: Microbe-Human Interactions

A set of flashcards focusing on key vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture on Microbe-Human Interactions.

Dynamic equilibrium

The balanced coexistence between the human body and its microorganisms.

Infection

The process when pathogenic microorganisms penetrate host defenses, enter tissues, and multiply.

Disease

The pathological state resulting from damage or disruption to tissues and organs.

Resident biota

Microbes that engage in mutual or commensal associations with humans; also referred to as normal flora or microbiota.

Symbiosis

An association between two or more species, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Pathogenicity

An organism's potential to cause infection or disease.

True pathogens

Microbes capable of causing disease in healthy individuals with normal immune defenses.

Opportunistic pathogens

Microbes that cause disease when the host's defenses are compromised.

Exogenous agents

Microbes originating from outside the body that can cause infection.

Endogenous infections

Infections caused by biota already present in the body.

Microbial antagonism

The process by which normal flora inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms.

Zoonosis

Infection indigenous to animals that is naturally transmissible to humans.

Latency

A condition in chronic diseases where the microbes remain inactive but can periodically become active.

Epidemiology

The study of the frequency and distribution of diseases and health-related factors in populations.

Communicable disease

A disease when an infected host can transmit the infectious agent to another host.

Nosocomial infections

Infections acquired during a hospital stay, also known as healthcare-associated infections.

Virulence factor

A characteristic or structure that contributes to a microbe's ability to cause disease.

Endotoxin

A toxic component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, released when the bacteria are damaged.

Exotoxin

A toxin secreted by living bacteria into the infected tissue.