Microbiology and Antibiotic Resistance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to microbiology, antibiotics, and infectious diseases to aid in exam preparation.

Microbiome

The community of microorganisms that live in and on our bodies.

Dysbiosis

An imbalance in the microbial communities, often associated with negative health outcomes.

Antibiotics

Medications that can kill bacteria or inhibit their growth.

Bactericidal

A type of antibiotic that kills bacteria.

Bacteriostatic

A type of antibiotic that prevents bacteria from growing.

Antibiotic Resistance

The ability of bacteria to resist the effects of an antibiotic.

Virion

The complete, infective form of a virus outside of a host cell.

Protease Inhibitors

Drugs that inhibit the function of proteases, enzymes crucial for viral replication.

Fecal Microbiota Transplant

A procedure that restores the gut microbiome by transplanting fecal bacteria from a healthy donor.

Prebiotics

Substances that induce the growth or activity of beneficial microorganisms.

Vaccines

Biological preparations that provide immunity to a particular infectious disease.

Efflux pump

A membrane transport protein that helps remove toxins, including antibiotics, from inside a bacterial cell.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells use mRNA to synthesize proteins.

Chain of Transmission

The sequence of events that allows the spread of disease from one host to another.

Super Resistant Bug

Bacterial strains that have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, making them difficult to treat.

Antiviral Agents

Medications that are effective against viral infections.

Metabolic disturbance

Impairments in the body’s metabolism, often linked to dysbiosis and health issues.

Phage Therapy

A treatment using bacteriophages to target and destroy specific bacteria.

Postbiotics

Products formed from the fermentation of prebiotics by probiotics.

Postexposure Prophylaxis

Treatment to prevent disease after potential exposure to an infectious agent.

Inflammatory Responses

Body's immune system response to pathogens that can lead to tissue damage if excessive.

Synaptic Pruning

A natural process that reduces the number of synapses to improve efficiency of neuronal transmissions.