Bacteria Vocab

Pathogen

Organisms that cause disease

Vaccine

Solution that stimulates the immune system to destroy a specific bacteria by introducing a weakened or dead form of the pathogenic microbe

Cocci

Sphere-shaped bacteria, come in single, strands, and tetards

Spirilla

Corkscrew-shaped bacteria, only singles

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria, in singles or strands

Gram stain

A process to identify the cell structure with a 2 stain process

Methanogen

Archae bacteria found in (oxygen-free) environments that produces methane gas

Thermoacidophile

Archae bacteria that thrive in extreme temperatures and extreme pH

Flagellum

A whip-like structure used for movement

Binary-Fission

Bacteria doubles its size, copies DNA, splits in two

Halophile

Archae bacteria that live in extremely salty environments

Nitrogen-fixation

Converts N2 in the air into fertilizers for plants

Archae

Ancient bacteria; simple cell wall, DNA similar to eukaryotes

Eubacteria

Most abundant in today’s habitat, cell wall contains peptidoglycan (better protection)

Antibiotic

Compounds that block growth of bacteria without harming the host

Obligate aerobe

Need oxygen to produce energy/live

Obligate anaerobe

Must live in an environment without oxygen

Facultative anaerobe

Can live with or without oxygen

Endospore

DNA + heat, sort of temp, resistant protein coat

a resistant asexual spore that develops inside some bacteria cells

Conjugation

Exchanging DNA thru a tube between 2 bacteria