Diversity of Infectious Organisms

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the diversity of infectious organisms, their classifications, and characteristics.

Eukaryotic Parasites

Parasites that belong to the domain of Eukaryota, including vertebrates, fungi, and protozoa.

Prokaryotic Parasites

Parasites that consist of prokaryotic organisms, including bacteria and archaea.

Microparasites

Parasites that typically reproduce within their host and are often measured in terms of individual infective units.

Macroparasites

Larger parasites that generally do not reproduce within their host, e.g., helminths and arthropods.

Viruses

Obligate parasites that cannot reproduce independently and must infect host cells to replicate.

Taxa

Groups of one or more populations of an organism or organisms that are grouped together based on shared characteristics.

Obligate Parasites

Organisms that can only live in or on a host organism.

Symbiotic

A close and often long-term interaction between two different biological species.

Opportunistic Infections

Infections that occur when the immune system is weakened, allowing normally non-pathogenic organisms to cause disease.

Fungi Characteristics

Organisms that absorb carbon and energy from other organisms, can be unicellular or multicellular, and decompose organic material.

Protozoa

Unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can cause diseases such as malaria and are characterized by their flexible lifestyles.

Nematodes

A type of roundworm that can be parasitic and has evolved multiple times within the Nematoda phylum.

Polymorphic

Having multiple forms or stages, often used to describe organisms that can exist in various states or conditions.

Genome Sequencing

A process used to determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism's genome.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

The transfer of genetic material between organisms in a manner other than traditional reproduction.

Lytic Cycle

A viral reproductive cycle that destroys the host cell, leading to the release of new viral particles.

Lysogenic Cycle

A viral reproductive cycle in which the virus integrates its genome into the host cell's DNA, remaining dormant until activated.

Capsid

The protein shell of a virus that encloses its genetic material.

Viral Recombination

The process by which viruses exchange genetic material during co-infection of a host cell.

Baltimore Classification

A classification system for viruses based on their type of genome and method of replication.