Microbiology, Parasitology, Immunology & Public Health – Vocabulary Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key microbiology, immunology, antimicrobial resistance, public health, and Philippine health-policy terms from the lecture.

Prion

A proteinaceous infectious particle that causes transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs)

Fatal neurodegenerative disorders produced by prions in humans and animals.

Scrapie

Prion disease of sheep and goats.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

“Mad-cow disease,” a prion disease in cattle transmissible to humans as vCJD.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

The most common human prion disease; rapidly progressive dementia.

Variant CJD (vCJD)

Human prion disease linked to consumption of BSE-contaminated beef.

Kuru

Prion disease once common in the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea, spread by ritualistic cannibalism.

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS)

Rare inherited prion disease characterized by ataxia and dementia.

Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)

Inherited prion disease causing untreatable insomnia and autonomic failure.

PrP (Prion Protein)

Normal cellular protein that misfolds into pathogenic form in prion diseases.

Iatrogenic CJD

CJD acquired from contaminated neurosurgical instruments, grafts, or pituitary hormones.

Antibiotic Darwinism

Evolutionary pressure driving antimicrobial resistance through misuse of antibiotics.

Broad-spectrum Antibiotic

Drug effective against a wide range of bacterial species; overuse promotes resistance.

Carbapenems

Broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics reserved for severe resistant infections.

3rd-Generation Fluoroquinolones

Potent DNA-gyrase inhibitors (e.g., levofloxacin) with broad Gram-positive & Gram-negative activity.

Penicillin G

Prototype narrow-spectrum natural penicillin active mainly against Gram-positive bacteria.

Amoxicillin

Oral aminopenicillin with extended Gram-negative coverage.

Methicillin

Penicillinase-resistant penicillin; historical marker for MRSA resistance.

Piperacillin

Extended-spectrum antipseudomonal penicillin often given with tazobactam.

β-Lactamase Inhibitor

Compound (e.g., clavulanic acid) that protects β-lactam antibiotics from enzymatic degradation.

Mutation (Microevolution)

Point change in bacterial DNA altering drug target and conferring resistance.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

Acquisition of foreign DNA via plasmids, phages, or transposons producing resistance genes.

Enzymatic Inactivation

Resistance mechanism in which bacteria produce enzymes that destroy or modify antibiotics.

Efflux Pump

Bacterial transporter that expels antibiotics, reducing intracellular drug concentration.

Porin Mutation

Change in outer-membrane channels decreasing antibiotic uptake in Gram-negative bacteria.

Penicillin-Binding Proteins (PBPs)

Transpeptidases targeted by β-lactam antibiotics; alteration leads to resistance.

Auxotroph

Bacterium that bypasses antibiotic inhibition by importing needed metabolites from the environment.

AO 42 (Philippines)

Executive order creating an inter-agency committee to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Nosocomial Infection

Infection acquired in a hospital setting.

Communicable Disease

Illness that spreads from one host to another directly or indirectly.

Non-Communicable Disease

Chronic disease not passed between hosts; influenced by genetics, environment, behavior.

Contagious Disease

Highly transmissible communicable disease spread easily between persons.

Zoonosis

Infection naturally transmissible from animals to humans.

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection.

Septicemia

Growth of bacteria in the bloodstream; “blood poisoning.”

Bacteremia

Presence of bacteria in the blood without multiplication.

Toxemia

Presence of toxins in the bloodstream.

Viremia

Presence of viruses in the blood.

Virulence

Degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism.

Toxigenicity

Capacity of an organism to produce toxins.

Invasiveness

Ability of a microbe to enter, grow, and spread within host tissues.

Incidence

Number of new cases of a disease in a population during a specific period.

Prevalence

Total number of existing cases (new and old) in a population at a given time.

Animal Reservoir

Non-human vertebrate host that maintains a pathogen in nature.

Asymptomatic Carrier

Human who harbors a pathogen without signs yet can transmit it.

Incubation Period

Time between exposure to pathogen and onset of symptoms.

Prodromal Period

Early phase with mild, nonspecific symptoms before full disease.

Acme

Peak severity of disease symptoms.

Convalescence

Period of recovery and tissue repair after infection.

Vector

Living carrier (e.g., mosquito) that transmits pathogens between hosts.

Fomite

Inanimate object that passively transmits pathogens.

Airborne Transmission

Spread via droplet nuclei >1 m through air to respiratory tract.

Sterilization

Complete destruction or removal of all forms of microbial life.

Disinfection

Elimination of most microorganisms on inanimate objects; not necessarily spores.

Degerming

Mechanical removal of microbes from a limited area (e.g., alcohol swab).

Autoclave

Steam sterilization device operating at 121 °C, 15 psi for 15–30 min.

Ethylene Oxide

Gaseous sterilant used for heat- and moisture-sensitive materials; toxic & explosive.

Ionizing Radiation

High-energy rays (gamma, X-ray) that sterilize by DNA damage.

UV Light (Non-Ionizing)

240–280 nm radiation that disinfects by causing thymine dimers in DNA.

Tyndallization

Intermittent steam sterilization at 100 °C on 3 successive days.

Primary Prevention

Actions to prevent disease onset (e.g., vaccination, health promotion).

Secondary Prevention

Early detection and treatment to halt or slow disease (e.g., screening).

Tertiary Prevention

Rehabilitation to reduce complications and improve quality of life.

Innate Immunity

Non-specific, immediate defense mechanisms present from birth.

Adaptive Immunity

Antigen-specific immune response involving lymphocytes and memory.

Neutrophil

Granulocyte that provides first-line defense via phagocytosis of bacteria.

Eosinophil

Granulocyte elevated in parasitic infections and allergic reactions.

Basophil

Granulocyte releasing histamine in allergic responses.

B Lymphocyte

Adaptive immune cell that differentiates into antibody-secreting plasma cells.

T Lymphocyte

Cell-mediated immune cell; includes helper (CD4) and cytotoxic (CD8) subsets.

Monocyte/Macrophage

Phagocytic leukocyte that differentiates into tissue macrophages.

Interferon

Host-coded antiviral proteins that inhibit viral replication.

Opsonization

Coating of pathogens by antibodies/complement to enhance phagocytosis.

Dendritic Cell

Professional antigen-presenting cell that activates T and B lymphocytes.

Natural Killer (NK) Cell

Lymphocyte that destroys virus-infected or tumor cells without prior sensitization.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4)

Helper-T-cell cytokine that stimulates IgE production.

DiGeorge Syndrome

Congenital T-cell deficiency due to thymic aplasia.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Cell-surface proteins that present peptide antigens to T cells.

MHC Class II

MHC molecules on antigen-presenting cells that present exogenous peptides to CD4 T cells.

IgG

Most abundant immunoglobulin; provides long-term immunity and opsonization.

IgM

Pentameric antibody mediating primary immune response; excellent at complement activation.

IgA

Secretory antibody in saliva, tears, mucus protecting mucosal surfaces.

IgE

Least abundant Ig; mediates Type I hypersensitivity and defense against parasites.

IgD

Surface receptor on naïve B cells; low serum concentration.

Type I Hypersensitivity

Immediate, IgE-mediated allergy (e.g., anaphylaxis, hay fever).

Type II Hypersensitivity

Cytotoxic reaction involving IgG/IgM against cell-bound antigens (e.g., transfusion reaction).

Type III Hypersensitivity

Immune complex-mediated inflammation (e.g., serum sickness, SLE).

Type IV Hypersensitivity

Delayed, T-cell-mediated reaction (e.g., contact dermatitis, TB skin test).

Live Attenuated Vaccine

Contains weakened pathogen capable of limited replication (e.g., MMR, BCG).

Inactivated Vaccine

Contains killed pathogen or toxins; cannot replicate (e.g., polio-IPV, Hep A).

Toxoid Vaccine

Inactivated bacterial toxin used as antigen (e.g., diphtheria, tetanus).

Polysaccharide Vaccine

Purified capsular sugars inducing B-cell response (e.g., Pneumovax 23).

Conjugate Vaccine

Polysaccharide linked to protein carrier to enhance immunogenicity (e.g., Hib, PCV-13).

Recombinant Vaccine

Antigen produced by genetic engineering in another organism (e.g., HBV, HPV).

Public Health

Science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through community efforts.

Epidemiology (Core Area)

Study of distribution and determinants of health events in populations.

Biostatistics

Application of statistical methods to biological and health data analysis.

Environmental Health

Field examining how environmental factors affect human health.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

System ensuring timely pre-hospital care by trained responders.

Health Services Administration

Management of human and fiscal resources for effective health service delivery.