General Microbiology: Bacterial Physiology, Genetics, Staining, and Virology

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering introductory microbiology, bacterial growth parameters, culture media, colony types, staining protocols, genetics, molecular biology, and bacteriophage morphology and replication.

Girolamo Fracastoro

Italian scholar who proposed in 1546 that contagious diseases are caused by invisible, living seeds or agents.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

Scientist who first discovered and observed living microorganisms under a microscope in 1674.

Louis Pasteur

French scientist (1822–1895) who proved the role of microorganisms in fermentation and infectious diseases, and developed the rabies vaccine.

Asepsis

The practice and set of procedures designed to prevent the presence or introduction of microorganisms in an environment.

Antisepsis

The procedure of reducing, inhibiting, or destroying microorganisms present on living tissues.

Immunology

The scientific discipline that studies the immune system and host defenses against foreign agents.

Eukaryotes

Microorganisms possessing a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-bound organelles; examples include protozoa, fungi, and algae.

Prokaryotes

Unicellular microorganisms lacking a distinct membrane-bound nucleus and internal membrane-bound organelles; examples include bacteria, archaebacteria, and cyanobacteria.

Spirochetes

Spiral-shaped bacteria of medical importance, represented by genera such as Treponema, Borrelia, and Leptospira.

Actinomycetes

A group of bacteria of medical significance that includes the genera Mycobacterium, Actinomyces, and Nocardia.

Gram-Positive Cocci

Spherical Gram-positive bacteria of medical importance, exemplified by the genera Micrococcus and Streptococcus.

Gram-Positive Bacilli

Rod-shaped Gram-positive bacteria of clinical relevance, including Bacillus, Listeria, and Lactobacillus.

Gram-Negative Bacteria

Bacterial group characterized by an outer membrane and thin peptidoglycan layer, encompassing Neisseria and enteric bacteria.

Binary Fission

The primary method of bacterial reproduction wherein a single parent cell divides into two daughter cells.

Robert Koch

Pioneering researcher who investigated the direct relationship between specific microorganisms and diseases, making fundamental contributions to pure culture techniques.

Factors Affecting Bacterial Growth

The four key environmental conditions governing bacterial reproduction: nutrients (besin), temperature (sıcaklık), pH, and oxygen (oksijen).

Psychrophiles

Cold-loving bacteria that grow optimally within a temperature range of $8\text{--}15\,^\circ\text{C}$.

Mesophiles

Bacteria that thrive at moderate temperatures of $20\text{--}45\,^\circ\text{C}$, representing the vast majority of human bacterial pathogens.

Thermophiles

Heat-loving bacteria that grow optimally at elevated temperatures between $50\text{--}70\,^\circ\text{C}$.

In Vitro

Biological processes, reactions, or diagnostic tests taking place outside a living organism, such as in an artificial laboratory environment.

In Vivo

Biological processes, experiments, or observations occurring inside a living organism.

Culture Medium (Besi Yeri)

Nutrient preparations formulated for supporting the growth and multiplication of microorganisms under laboratory conditions, usually solidified with agar.

Simple Media

General-purpose bacterial culture media composed solely of basic nutrients required for standard growth.

Enriched Media

Nutritional media supplemented with specialized biological fluids such as whole blood or serum to support fastidious organisms.

Special Media

Formulations specifically tailored to fulfill the distinct or unique growth requirements of specialized bacteria.

Selective Media

Culture media formulated to preferentially support and encourage the growth of desired bacteria while suppressing unwanted species.

Smooth (S) Colony

A bacterial colony morphology characterized by an even, uniform, and smooth surface texture.

Rough (R) Colony

A bacterial colony morphology characterized by a wrinkled, coarse, and irregular surface.

Mucoid (M) Colony

A bacterial colony appearance displaying a glistening, slimy, mucus-like consistency.

L-form Colony

A distinct bacterial colony type produced by bacteria that lack or have lost their cell wall.

Anaerobic Bacteria

Microorganisms that are capable of surviving and replicating in environments completely devoid of free oxygen.

Methods for Anaerobic Cultivation

The four strategies used to eliminate oxygen: chemical removal, biological consumption by oxygen-consuming microbes, addition of reducing agents, and mechanical evacuation of air.

Stages of Bacterial Staining

The systematic three-step laboratory protocol: 1. Smear preparation, 2. Smear fixation, and 3. Smear staining.

Gram Staining Reagent Sequence

The ordered four-step staining protocol: 1. Crystal violet (primary stain), 2. Lugol's iodine (mordant), 3. Alcohol (decolorizer), and 4. Safranin/diluted fuchsin (counterstain).

Gram-Positive Appearance and Structure

Cells that stain purple due to a thick, multilayered peptidoglycan cell wall retaining the crystal violet-iodine complex.

Gram-Negative Appearance and Structure

Cells that stain pink or red due to a thin peptidoglycan layer surrounded by an outer membrane that releases primary dye upon alcohol treatment.

Giemsa Stain

A differential histological and microbiological stain used to examine fine cellular structures and specific microorganisms.

Acid-Fast Bacilli (ARB / Ehrlich-Ziehl-Neelsen) Stain

A diagnostic staining technique used to visualize acid-resistant bacteria, particularly the causative agent of tuberculosis.

In Vivo Animal Inoculation Routes

Experimental administration sites used to examine microbial pathogenicity, including the skin surface, intradermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intravenous routes, and cardiac puncture.

Nucleotide Components

The three molecular subunits constituting nucleic acid monomer units: a pentose sugar, an inorganic phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Purine Bases

Double-ring nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids, consisting of Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Pyrimidine Bases

Single-ring nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids, consisting of Cytosine (C) and Thymine (T) in DNA, and Uracil (U) in RNA.

Complementary Hydrogen Bonding in DNA

The specific pairing between DNA bases consisting of $2$ hydrogen bonds between Adenine and Thymine, and $3$ hydrogen bonds between Guanine and Cytosine.

DNA Replication

The biological process in which a double-stranded DNA molecule copies itself to reproduce identical genetic information.

Structural Differences Between DNA and RNA

DNA contains deoxyribose, thymine (T), and is typically double-stranded; RNA contains ribose, uracil (U), and is typically single-stranded.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

The RNA molecule responsible for carrying genetic coding instructions from genomic DNA to the ribosome.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

The structural and catalytic RNA component integrated directly into the assembly of the ribosome.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

The RNA adaptor molecule that carries specific amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Bacterial Ribosome

The $70\text{S}$ prokaryotic protein synthesis organelle, composed of a large $50\text{S}$ subunit and a small $30\text{S}$ subunit.

Transcription

The enzymatic synthesis of an RNA molecule from a complementary DNA template strand.

Translation

The process of decoding genetic information encoded in mRNA to synthesize a polypeptide chain.

Bacteriophage

A specific type of virus that infects and replicates exclusively within bacterial cells.

Bacteriophage Replication Steps

The 5-stage viral life cycle: 1. Attachment to the bacterium, 2. Transfer of viral DNA, 3. Synthesis of phage DNA and proteins, 4. Assembly of new phages, and 5. Release of mature virions from the cell.

Morphological Types of Bacteriophages

Phage structural varieties including contractile-tailed, long-tailed sheathless, short-tailed sheathless, tailless with large capsomers, tailless with small capsomers, and filamentous phages.