Human Biology: Bacteria and Tuberculosis

Vocabulary flashcards about bacteria and tuberculosis.

Bacteria

Single-celled, microscopic prokaryotes that can live in various environments.

Binary Fission

Efficient replication method used by bacteria allowing for rapid population growth.

Staphylococcus aureus

Bacteria that normally lives on skin, but can cause staph infections.

E. Coli

Part of the body's microflora, but certain strains can cause food poisoning and UTIs.

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Bacteria found in fermented foods that lives in the gastrointestinal tract.

Streptococcus mutans

Bacteria that lives in the mouth and can contribute to tooth decay.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacteria that lives in soil and water and is responsible for antibiotic-resistant infections.

Virulence Factors

Properties of bacteria that determine whether it will be harmful or not.

Flagellum

A whip-like structure that allows bacteria to move to tissues and around the body.

Pili

Small hair-like structures that allow bacteria to adhere to surfaces and cell structures.

Capsule

Structure surrounding some bacteria, made of polysaccharides, providing protection from phagocytosis.

Exotoxins

Toxic molecules released by bacteria that can cause damage to host cells and impair the immune response.

Endotoxins

Lipopolysaccharides associated with the capsule of some bacteria that are released when the cell is damaged and can cause toxicity.

Cocci

Bacteria that are sphere shaped.

Bacilli

Bacteria that are rod shaped.

Spirochetes

Bacteria that are spiral shaped.

Gram Stain

Diagnostic test that classifies bacteria based on the structure of their cell wall.

Gram Positive Bacteria

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan cell wall that retains the crystal violet stain and appears purple.

Gram Negative Bacteria

Bacteria with a thin cell wall and an outer membrane that does not retain the crystal violet stain and appears pink after Gram staining.

Crystal Violet

Molecule used in Gram staining that colors bacteria based on cell wall structure.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Lethal infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The bacterium that causes tuberculosis; it has a unique outer membrane made of mycolic acid.

Mycolic Acid

Fatty acid that makes up the outer membrane of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Ischaemic Heart Disease

Non-infectious disease that was the number one killer in 2021.

Diarrheal Diseases

Group of diseases that can be caused by parasites, bacteria, or viruses.

Epidemic

Sudden outbreak of a disease with a lot of transmission.

Aerosol Transmission

Mode of transmission of tuberculosis through inhalation of aerosols containing the bacteria.

Infectious Dose

The number of bacteria needed to cause an infection; Mycobacterium tuberculosis has a low infectious dose of about 10 bacteria.

Macrophages

Immune cells that engulf bacteria in the lungs.

Granuloma

Massive tissue formed by immune cells to enclose infected macrophages, characteristic of tuberculosis.

Latent Tuberculosis

Dormant state of tuberculosis where the bacteria are enclosed in granulomas and do not cause symptoms.

Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Reactivated form of tuberculosis where the bacteria replicate and spread in the lungs, causing symptoms.

Miliary TB

Widespread form of tuberculosis where the bacteria spread to other organs via the lymphatic system or bloodstream.

TB Skin Test/Interferon Gamma Test

Tests that determine if a person has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis by looking at their immune response.

Pulmonary TB

Tuberculosis that affects the lungs.

Sputum Culture

Method of confirming active TB by growing bacteria collected from coughing.

Rifampicin

One of the four drugs used to treat Tuberculosis.

Isoniazid

One of the four drugs used to treat Tuberculosis.

Pyrazinamide

One of the four drugs used to treat Tuberculosis.

Ethambutol

One of the four drugs used to treat Tuberculosis.