Microbiology 2420 - Comprehensive Study Guide (Quizzes #1-3)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in microbiology found in the study guide.

Koch's Postulates

A series of criteria used to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

Germ Theory

A theory that posits specific microbes cause specific diseases.

DNA Helicase

An enzyme that unwinds the DNA double helix during DNA replication.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.

mRNA

Messenger RNA, the product of transcription that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA at the ribosome.

Log Phase

The phase of bacterial growth where rapid division occurs, making bacteria sensitive to antibiotics.

Gram Stain

A staining technique used to classify bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative based on cell wall composition.

Gram Positive Bacteria

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer that retain the crystal violet stain, appearing purple.

Malaria Pathogen

Plasmodium species, transmitted by the female Anopheles mosquito.

Efflux Pumps

Mechanisms bacteria use to pump out antibiotics, contributing to antibiotic resistance.

MHC-I Molecules

Molecules that present endogenous antigens to cytotoxic T cells.

Phagocytosis

The process by which a cell engulfs a solid particle, such as a microbe, to form an internal phagosome.

T4 Phage

A type of bacteriophage that infects E. coli and undergoes a specific replication cycle.

Retroviridae

A family of viruses that are enveloped, contain single-stranded RNA, and replicate through reverse transcription.

Bacterial Conjugation

The process of genetic transfer between bacteria through direct contact, involving the transfer of plasmids.