General Microbiology Exam 1 Vocabulary

Comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering General Microbiology Exam 1 review concepts including microbial isolation, structural biology, viral replication, eukaryotic organelles, flagellar arrangements, and historical microbiology milestones.

Inoculation

The introduction of microorganisms into or onto a culture medium to begin the process of growing microbes.

Incubation

The process of providing controlled environmental conditions (such as temperature, oxygen, and $\text{CO}_2$) to promote microbial growth, typically at temperatures ranging from $20\,^\circ\text{C}$ to $45\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Isolation

The technique of separating individual microorganisms from one another on a solid media surface to allow individual colonies to form, with the goal of obtaining a pure culture.

Inspection

The examination of cultured microorganisms through macroscopic and microscopic analysis, phenotypic and genotypic testing, and immunologic testing.

Identification

The process of determining the specific identity of a microorganism using key physical, chemical, and biological characteristics gathered during inspection and testing.

Lysogenic cycle

A viral replication process where bacteriophage nucleic acid integrates directly into the host bacterial chromosome as a prophage, replicating along with the host without causing immediate destruction.

Lytic infection

A viral infection cycle that leads to rapid synthesis of viral components, assembly of virions, and host cell lysis to release progeny viruses.

Persistent infection

A continuous, long-term viral infection where host cells continuously release virions at low levels over a prolonged period (often through budding) with variable cellular damage.

Latent infection

A type of viral infection in which the viral genome remains dormant or inactive inside the host cell without producing new virions or causing cellular damage until reactivated.

Prophage

An inactive viral genome integrated into the host bacterial chromosome during the lysogenic cycle.

Antiseptic surgery

A surgical practice introduced by Joseph Lister in 1867 that utilized carbolic acid to sterilize surgical instruments and treat wounds to prevent postoperative infection.

Ribosomes

Tiny intracellular structures composed of ribosomal RNA and proteins that function as the primary sites of protein synthesis in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Peptidoglycan

A structural polymer in bacterial cell walls composed of repeating disaccharide subunits of NAG ($N\text{-acetylglucosamine}$) and NAM ($N\text{-acetylmuramic acid}$) cross-linked by short amino acid chains.

Gram-positive cell wall

A bacterial cell wall type characterized by a thick peptidoglycan layer containing teichoic acids, and lacking an outer membrane.

Gram-negative cell wall

A bacterial cell wall type featuring a thin peptidoglycan layer surrounded by an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lacking teichoic acids.

Gram stain

A differential staining procedure consisting of four ordered steps: primary staining with crystal violet, mordant application with iodine, decolorization with alcohol, and counterstaining with safranin.

Monotrichous

A flagellar arrangement consisting of a single flagellum located at one pole of the bacterial cell.

Amphitrichous

A flagellar arrangement characterized by flagella positioned at both opposite poles of the bacterial cell.

Lophotrichous

A flagellar arrangement describing a tuft or bunch of flagella emerging from a single pole of the bacterial cell.

Peritrichous

A flagellar arrangement where flagella are distributed randomly over the entire surface of the bacterial cell.

Flagellum

A specialized bacterial motility appendage consisting of a basal body, hook, and long rotating filament that propels the cell forward.

Actin-like filaments

Cytoskeletal elements in bacteria responsible for maintaining cell shape.

Staphylococci

A bacterial arrangement consisting of round cells (cocci) grouped in irregular, grape-like clusters.

Streptococci

A bacterial arrangement consisting of round cells (cocci) connected in linear chains.

Tetrads

A bacterial arrangement composed of round cells (cocci) arranged in flat, square groups of four.

Sarcina

A bacterial arrangement composed of round cells (cocci) organized into cubical packets of eight or more cells.

Fastidious microorganisms

Microbes with complex nutritional requirements that can only grow when specific growth factors and complex nutrients are provided in enriched media.

Glycocalyx

An outer coating composed of polysaccharides or proteins located external to the cell wall, providing protective, adhesive, and cell-receptor functions.

Plasmid

A small, separate, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria that replicates independently of the chromosomal DNA.

Host specificity (viral)

The restricted host range of a virus, which is determined by the precise attachment of viral surface molecules (spikes) to specific receptor molecules on host cell membranes.

Decomposition

The biological breakdown of dead organic matter by microorganisms.

Bioremediation

The deliberate environmental application of microorganisms to consume, degrade, or neutralize toxic pollutants and contaminants.

Pathogenesis

The specific biological sequence and mechanisms through which an infectious microorganism causes disease inside a host.

Adsorption

The initial binding step in viral replication where surface proteins or spikes on the virus attach to specific receptor molecules on the host cell surface.

Penetration

The viral entry step where the virus or its genetic material crosses the host cell membrane via mechanisms such as endocytosis.

Uncoating

The stage of viral infection during which the protein capsid is removed to release the viral genome into the host cell cytoplasm.

Assembly (viral)

The step in viral replication where newly synthesized capsomeres assemble around viral nucleic acids to form complete virion structures.

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

A eukaryotic membrane-bound organelle lacking attached ribosomes that functions in lipid synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and drug detoxification.

Rough endoplasmic reticulum

A eukaryotic membrane network studded with ribosomes that synthesizes, folds, and processes proteins destined for membranes or secretion.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle consisting of stacks of membrane-bound sacs that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins and lipids received from the ER for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound organelles packed with digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down engulfed waste materials, cellular debris, and ingested pathogens.

Cell wall

A rigid layer surrounding bacterial cells, composed of peptidoglycan, that prevents osmotic lysis and maintains cell shape.

Cytoplasm

The dense fluid matrix contained within the cell membrane that serves as the site for most bacterial metabolic reactions.

Capsule

A dense, gelatinous polysaccharide layer tightly bound to the exterior of the cell wall that aids in surface attachment and protects against phagocytosis.

Pilus

An elongated, hair-like protein projection on the bacterial cell surface primarily used for attachment to host tissues or conjugation.

Streak plate technique

A microbiological isolation method in which a pattern is used to spread bacteria across an agar plate to obtain separated, isolated colonies.

Positive chemotaxis

The directed movement of a cell or organism toward a favorable chemical stimulus or attractant.

Negative chemotaxis

The directed movement of a cell or organism away from a harmful chemical signal or repellent.

Koch's Postulates

A series of criteria developed by Robert Koch to experimentally establish a causal relationship between a specific microorganism and a specific disease.

Germ Theory of Disease

The overarching scientific principle stating that microscopic organisms (germs) are the causative agents of infectious diseases.

Spontaneous Generation

An obsolete historical belief proposing that living organisms could spontaneously arise from non-living or decomposing matter.

Sterilization

A cleaning or processing method that destroys or removes all forms of viable microbial life, including bacterial endospores.

Prion

An infectious agent composed entirely of misfolded protein containing no nucleic acid.

Endospore

A specialized, dormant, heat- and chemical-resistant structure formed by certain bacteria to survive inhospitable conditions.

Fimbriae

Small, bristle-like protein fibers emerging from the bacterial cell surface that primarily function in adhesion to surfaces and host tissues.

Selective media

Culture media formulated with components that inhibit the growth of certain microbes while allowing others to grow.

Differential media

Culture media that contain indicators allowing multiple types of organisms to grow while displaying visible differences among them.

Epidemiology

The study of the frequency, distribution, and control of health and disease states in defined human populations.

Cilia

Distinct, eukaryotic hair-like organelles used for cell motility or moving fluids across cell surfaces, distinct from bacterial flagella.