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A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms, laboratory criteria, molecular methods, and key concepts in microbial taxonomy and classification.
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Taxonomy
Ordered classification of organisms, from Greek 'taxis' (arrangement) and 'nomos' (law), that reflects natural relationships, increasingly based on molecular data rather than phenotype.
Hierarchy of Biological Classification
The ranked system of Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species set out by Linnaeus. A common acronym to remember this order is "King Philip Came Over For Good Soup."
Domain (Woese, 1990)
Highest taxonomic rank separating life into Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya based on rRNA analysis.
Subspecies / Strain
Population within a species distinguished by minor but stable genetic or phenotypic differences.
Biovar
Strain subgroup differentiated by unique biochemical or physiologic traits.
Serovar
Strain subgroup distinguished by variations in antigenic surface structures.
Morphovar
Strain subgroup identified by distinctive cell shape or morphology.
Phage Type
Bacterial strain classification based on susceptibility to specific bacteriophages.
Identification (Microbiology)
Process of isolating and recognizing a specific microorganism from a mixed sample using a classification scheme.
Classification
Grouping organisms into taxonomic categories using experimental and observational data.
Nomenclature
Official system for naming organisms sanctioned by the scientific community.
Non-selective Medium
Complex growth medium (e.g., blood agar) that supports many bacterial species without inhibition.
Selective Medium
Culture medium containing inhibitors that suppress unwanted microbes while allowing target organisms to grow.
Differential Medium
Culture medium that distinguishes microbes based on visible metabolic differences, such as color change.
Gram Stain
Differential stain separating bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative based on cell wall properties.
Acid-Fast Stain
Special stain used to visualize mycobacteria with waxy cell walls rich in mycolic acids.
Substrate Specificity
Growth requirement for particular nutrients or media, e.g., Bordetella pertussis on Bordet-Gengou agar.
Phenotypic Characteristics
Observable traits such as morphology, motility, spore formation, pigment, odor, and growth conditions.
Serology
Use of antibodies to detect specific bacterial surface antigens, defining serotypes or serogroups.
Bacteriophage Typing
Subtyping method based on a strain’s susceptibility to a set of lytic phages.