Microbiology 3880 - Spring 2026 Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the Microbiology 3880 course, focusing on definitions and significant themes relevant to the study of microorganisms.

Microbiology

The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus; examples include bacteria and archaea.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus and other organelles; includes fungi, algae, and protists.

Microbe

An organism that requires a microscope to be seen.

Antiseptic

A substance that prevents the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.

Koch’s Postulates

A series of criteria established by Robert Koch for demonstrating a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

Aseptic surgery

A surgical technique that aims to prevent contamination by pathogens.

Vaccination

The act of introducing a vaccine into the body to produce immunity against a disease.

Endosymbiosis

The theory that certain organelles within eukaryotic cells originated as free-living prokaryotes.

Lithotrophs

Microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic substrates.

Genome

The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.

Metagenomics

The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples.

Biofilm

A complex community of microorganisms that adhere to a surface and are embedded in a protective matrix.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Viroid

An infectious agent composed solely of RNA that can cause disease in plants.

Prion

An infectious agent composed entirely of protein that can cause neurodegenerative diseases.

Electromicrobiology

A field studying the interaction between microbial communities and electrical devices.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance between the cell membrane and nucleus, containing organelles.

Swan-neck flask

A flask designed by Louis Pasteur to demonstrate that microbes come from other microbes, not spontaneous generation.

Antibiotic

A type of medication that inhibits the growth of or destroys bacteria.

Nutritional Biochemistry

The study of nutrients and their effects on living organisms.