Microbiology and Taxonomy Review

These flashcards encompass key vocabulary terms and concepts from the lecture notes on microbiology, antibiotic therapies, taxonomy, and classification of organisms.

Chemotherapy

The treatment of disease by using chemicals, especially to treat infections.

Antibiotics

Substances produced by microorganisms that kill or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms.

Broad-spectrum antibiotic

An antibiotic that is effective against a wide range of bacteria.

Superinfection

An infection that occurs after or on top of an earlier infection, typically caused by different pathogens.

Modes of action of antimicrobial drugs

Mechanisms by which drugs inhibit or kill microbial cells.

Isoniazid

An antimycobacterial agent used to treat tuberculosis.

Aminoglycosides

A class of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis by binding to bacterial ribosomes.

Sulfa drugs

Synthetic antibiotics that inhibit microbial growth by interfering with metabolism.

Phylogeny

The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying and naming organisms.

Binomial nomenclature

A formal system of naming species using two names: the genus and the species.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

Serological testing

Tests that detect antibodies or antigens in a sample to identify microorganisms.

Phage Typing

A method to differentiate bacterial strains based on their susceptibility to specific bacteriophages.

Nucleic Acid Hybridization

A technique used to measure the degree of genetic similarity between pools of organisms.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A method widely used in molecular biology to make multiple copies of a specific DNA segment.

Dichotomous key

A tool that allows the identification of organisms based on a series of choices between two characteristics.

Culture

A method of growing microorganisms in a controlled environment.

Clone

A population of cells derived from a single parent cell.

Strain

Genetically different cells within a clone.

Prokaryotic cells

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryotic cells

Complex cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Phylogenetic Tree

A branching diagram that represents the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.

Guanine + Cytosine %

A measure used in DNA base composition to determine the relatedness of two organisms.