Chapter 1: Introduction to Microbiology (Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the chapter 1 microbiology notes.

Microbiology

The study of microbes and microorganisms that are too small to see without magnification; requires magnification to view them.

Microbe

A microorganism; a tiny living organism not visible to the naked eye.

Tapeworm

In the egg stage, the organism is microscopic; in the adult stage, it is visible without magnification.

Normal microbiota

Microbes that live in and on the human body; generally beneficial but can cause disease if unbalanced.

Opportunistic infection

Illness that occurs when normal microbiota are unbalanced, allowing other members to flourish.

Pathogen

A microbe that causes disease.

Infectious disease

A disease caused by a pathogen infecting a susceptible host.

Aerobic

Microorganisms that require or thrive in the presence of oxygen.

Anaerobic

Microorganisms that do not require oxygen and may be harmed by it.

Obligate aerobe

An organism that must live in an oxygen-present environment.

Obligate anaerobe

An organism that must live in an oxygen-free environment.

Facultative anaerobe

An organism that can grow with or without oxygen; prefers oxygen but can survive without.

Binomial nomenclature

Scientific naming with two parts: genus (capitalized) and species (lowercase); italicized or underlined.

Staphylococcus aureus

A binomial name example: genus Staphylococcus, species aureus; italicized.

Bacteriology

The study of bacteria.

Virology

The study of viruses.

Parasitology

The study of parasites, including helminths (worms) and protozoa.

Hooke

Robert Hooke (1665) coined the term 'cells' after viewing plant cell compartments; contributed to cell theory.

Cell theory

The concept that all living things are composed of cells.

Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Scientist who first described motile microbes using simple microscopes (1673).

Spontaneous generation

The theory that life could arise from nonliving matter; disproved by Pasteur’s experiments.

Biogenesis

The idea that living matter arises only from living matter; foundational to modern biology.

Swan-necked flask

Pasteur's curved-neck flask that allowed air in but trapped microbes, preventing contamination.

Fermentation

Microbial conversion of sugars to alcohol or acids; demonstrated by Pasteur.

Pasteurization

Controlled heating to kill pathogens and reduce spoilage in foods and liquids.

Germ theory of disease

The idea that microorganisms are the cause of many diseases.

Immunizations

Vaccination-based process of inducing immunity to diseases.

Antibiotics

Drugs produced by microbes or synthetically used to treat bacterial infections.

Compound light microscope

Basic microscope using visible light and lenses; stains often used to enhance visualization.

Phase-contrast microscope

Microscope that uses light diffraction to view internal structures of living cells.

Fluorescent microscope

Microscope that uses fluorescent tags (fluorochromes) and UV light to visualize specimens.

Confocal microscope

Microscope producing three-dimensional images using fluorochromes and optical sectioning.

Electron microscope

Microscope that uses a beam of electrons and electromagnetic lenses for high-resolution imaging.

Scanned-probe microscope

Advanced microscope that uses an electrical probe to analyze surface properties at the molecular level.