Introduction to Microbiology – Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key people, concepts, organisms, and technological advances presented in the microbiology lecture notes.

Microorganism (Microbe)

An organism too small to be seen with the naked eye; foundation for all life on Earth.

Domain Bacteria

One of the three domains of life; unicellular prokaryotes, most diverse and populous.

Domain Archaea

Prokaryotic domain distinct from bacteria; many species thrive in extreme environments.

Domain Eukarya

Domain that includes all eukaryotic organisms such as algae, protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals.

Prokaryote

A unicellular organism lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (Bacteria and Archaea).

Eukaryote

Organism whose cells contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (algae, protozoa, fungi, helminths).

Algae

Photosynthetic aquatic eukaryotes; studied in phycology.

Protozoa

Single-celled motile eukaryotes, sometimes pathogenic; studied in protozoology.

Fungi

Eukaryotic decomposers that may be unicellular (yeasts) or multicellular (molds); studied in mycology.

Helminths

Multicellular parasitic worms with microscopic life stages; diagnosed microscopically.

Arthropods (as disease vectors)

Insects and related organisms that transmit or ‘cause’ disease, though few are actual pathogens.

Virus

Acellular infectious agent composed of a protein capsid and nucleic acid core; obligate intracellular parasite.

Viroid

Infectious molecule consisting solely of circular RNA; lacks protein coat.

Prion

Misfolded infectious protein capable of inducing abnormal folding in normal proteins.

Acellular Infectious Agent

Non-living pathogen such as a virus, viroid, or prion.

Biogenesis

Theory stating that life arises only from pre-existing life.

Abiogenesis

Discredited idea that life can spontaneously arise from non-living matter.

Pasteurization

Heat treatment process developed by Louis Pasteur to reduce microbial load without damaging product quality.

Fermentation (microbial)

Conversion of sugars to alcohols, acids, and CO₂ by microorganisms; elucidated by Pasteur.

Anaerobic Organism

Microbe that grows without oxygen; recognized by Pasteur.

Microbial Attenuation

Weakening of a pathogen for use in vaccine production.

Cell Theory

Biological principle that all organisms are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of life, and cells arise from existing cells.

Koch’s Postulates

Four criteria establishing a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

Germ Theory of Disease

Concept that specific diseases are caused by specific microorganisms.

Pure Culture Technique

Method introduced by Robert Koch in 1881 allowing growth of a single microbial species on solid media.

Gram Stain

Differential staining procedure developed by Hans Christian Gram to classify bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative.

Nitrogen Fixation

Conversion of atmospheric N₂ to ammonia by certain bacteria; isolated by Beijerinck in 1888.

Penicillin

First antibiotic, discovered by Alexander Fleming from Penicillium chrysogenum in 1928.

Antibiotic

Chemical substance produced by or derived from microorganisms that inhibits or kills other microbes.

Antiseptic (Phenol)

Chemical (carbolic acid) used by Joseph Lister to reduce surgical infections.

Vaccine

Preparation of weakened, killed, or component microbes that stimulates protective immunity.

Smallpox Vaccine

First successful vaccine, created by Edward Jenner using cowpox virus in 1796.

Emerging Infectious Disease (EID)

Disease recognized or increasingly common within the last ~35 years (e.g., MERS, Ebola, Zika).

Bioremediation

Use of microorganisms to degrade environmental pollutants.

Biotechnology (Microbial)

Exploitation of microbes for industrial, medical, or agricultural products.

Bacteriophage Therapy

Treatment using viruses that infect and lyse specific bacteria.

Gene Therapy

Introduction of genetic material into human cells to treat disease, often employing viral vectors.

Recombinant Microbe

Microorganism genetically engineered to express foreign genes for research or product synthesis.

Human Biome Project

2007-2016 initiative to sequence and characterize all microbes associated with the human body.

Monoclonal Antibody

Identical antibodies produced from a single B-cell clone; technique developed by Milstein, Köhler, and Jeme in 1975.

Three-Domain System (Woese)

Classification dividing life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya based on ribosomal RNA sequences (1977).

Antony van Leeuwenhoek

‘Father of microscopy’; first observed living microorganisms (“animalcules”) with handcrafted lenses (~1674).

Louis Pasteur

Pioneer of microbiology who disproved spontaneous generation, developed pasteurization, and advanced vaccines.

Robert Koch

Microbiologist who formulated Koch’s postulates, isolated anthrax and tuberculosis agents, and advanced lab methods.

Alexander Fleming

Scottish scientist who discovered penicillin in 1928.

Edward Jenner

English physician who developed the smallpox vaccine using cowpox inoculation in 1796.

Joseph Lister

Surgeon who introduced antiseptic surgery using phenol in the 1860s.

Emergence Factors (disease)

Evolution, host shifts, antibiotic resistance, and societal change enabling new or resurging diseases.

Phycology

Scientific study of algae.

Protozoology

Scientific study of protozoa.

Mycology

Scientific study of fungi.

Parasitology

Study of parasitic worms (helminths) and protozoa.

Virology

Scientific discipline focused on viruses.

Bacteriology

Branch of microbiology dealing with bacteria.