infectious disease quiz

Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause diseases.

Bacteria

Prokaryotes that can be beneficial or harmful.

Prokaryotes

Cells that lack a nucleus, including bacteria and archaea.

Nucleoid Region

Area in prokaryotes containing chromosomes.

Plasmids

Smaller rings of independently replicating DNA.

Transformation

Uptake of genes from the surrounding environment.

Conjugation

Direct gene transfer from one prokaryote to another.

Transduction

Gene transfers by viruses.

Obligate aerobes

Organisms that require O2 for cellular respiration.

Obligate anaerobes

Organisms poisoned by O2 that live by fermentation.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can use O2 if present or carry out fermentation if not.

Strict Pathogen

Always causes diseases.

Opportunistic Pathogen

Part of normal microbial flora that can cause disease in weakened hosts.

Acute Infection

Symptoms develop quickly and clear quickly.

Chronic Infection

Symptoms develop slowly and last from months to years.

Latent Infection

Illness that never completely goes away.

Zoonotic Disease

Disease that can transfer between animals and humans.

Virulence

Degree to which a microorganism can cause disease.

Coccus

Round-shaped bacteria.

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Spirochete

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Gram Positive

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer that stains purple.

Gram Negative

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer and outer membrane that stains pink/red.

Virus

Acellular infectious agents that must infect a host cell to reproduce.

Prion

Infectious proteins that cause misfolding of normal proteins.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that can be unicellular or multicellular.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotes often transmitted by vectors.

Ectoparasites

Parasites that live on the surface of a host.

Lytic Cycle

Viral replication cycle where the host cell bursts to release new viruses.

Lysogenic Cycle

Viral DNA integrates into host DNA and remains dormant.

Retrovirus

RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase to make DNA.