exam 4 microbio vocab

Decontamination

The process of removing or reducing harmful germs, dirt, or other contaminants from a person, object, or surface to make it safe to handle or use.

Bacterial Endospores

Tough, dormant structures made by some bacteria that help them survive harsh conditions like heat, drying, and chemicals. When conditions improve, they can become active bacteria again

Vegetative Cells

The active, growing form of bacteria that carries out normal functions like eating, growing, and reproducing. Unlike endospores, vegetative cells are not highly resistant to harsh conditions.

Disinfection

The process of killing or removing most harmful germs on surfaces, but not usually bacterial endospores.

Sterilization

The process of destroying or removing all microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and bacterial endospores.

Antisepsis

The use of chemicals called antiseptics on living tissue (like skin) to kill or reduce harmful microorganisms and help prevent infection.

Sanitization

The process of reducing the number of germs on surfaces to a safe level according to public health standards. It does not kill all microorganisms.

Degermation

The physical removal of germs from a surface, usually by washing or scrubbing, such as washing your hands with soap and water.

Microbial Death

The permanent loss of a microorganism's ability to grow and reproduce, even if it is still physically intact.

Moist Heat

A method of killing microorganisms using hot water or steam. It works by damaging proteins and is very effective at killing most microbes.

Dry Heat

A method of killing microorganisms using hot air without moisture. It destroys microbes by damaging cells and oxidizing their components.

Thermal Death Time

The shortest amount of time needed to kill all microorganisms in a sample at a specific temperature

Thermal Death Point

The lowest temperature needed to kill all microorganisms in a sample within a specific amount of time (usually 10 minutes).

Autoclave

A machine that uses high-pressure steam and heat to sterilize equipment by killing all microorganisms, including bacterial endospores

Pasteurization

A process that uses controlled heat to kill harmful microorganisms in liquids (like milk) without destroying the quality of the product. It reduces the number of pathogens but does not completely sterilize the product.

Incineration

A method of destroying microorganisms by burning materials at very high temperatures until they are completely destroyed.

Microbistatic

A substance or process that stops microorganisms from growing and reproducing but does not necessarily kill them. Once the substance is removed, the microbes may start growing again.

Microbicidal

A substance or process that kills microorganisms rather than just stopping their growth.

Desiccation

The process of removing water from microorganisms, which slows or stops their growth and reproduction. Some microbes can survive drying and become active again when water returns.

Ionizing Radiation

High-energy radiation that damages microbial DNA and kills microorganisms. (Example: X-rays and gamma rays)

Nonionizing Radiation

Lower-energy radiation that damages microbial DNA and prevents growth. (Example: UV light)

Filtration

A method of removing microorganisms from liquids or air by passing them through a filter with tiny pores that trap microbes.

Antibiotics

Medications that kill bacteria or stop their growth by targeting specific bacterial structures or processes. They do not work against viruses.

Selective Toxicity

The ability of a drug to harm or kill microbes without causing major damage to the host (person) receiving the treatment.

Broad Spectrum

An antibiotic that works against a wide variety of bacteria, including many different types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Narrow Spectrum

An antibiotic that works against a small, specific group of bacteria. It targets fewer types of bacteria compared to broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Mechanism/Mode of Action

The specific way a drug or treatment works to affect a microorganism, such as by stopping cell wall formation, blocking protein production, or damaging DNA.

Penicillin

An antibiotic that kills bacteria by preventing them from making cell walls, causing the bacteria to break apart and die. It is most effective against many Gram-positive bacteria.

Cephalosporin

An antibiotic that kills bacteria by blocking cell wall formation, similar to penicillin. It is effective against a variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Osmotic Shock

The damage or bursting of a cell caused by a sudden change in water balance, such as when a cell is placed in a solution with a different salt concentration. This can cause water to rush in or out of the cell.

Synthetic

A substance that is artificially made by humans through chemical processes rather than produced naturally.

Augmentin/Clavulanic Acid

A combination antibiotic made of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid. Clavulanic acid blocks bacterial enzymes that can destroy amoxicillin, helping the antibiotic kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Amoxicillin

A penicillin-type antibiotic that kills bacteria by blocking the formation of their cell walls, causing the bacteria to break apart and die. It is commonly used to treat many bacterial infections.

Beta Lactam Ring

A chemical structure found in antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporins that allows them to block bacterial cell wall formation. Bacteria can become resistant by producing beta-lactamase enzymes that break down this ring.

Penicillinase/Beta Lactamase

Enzymes produced by some bacteria that break down the beta-lactam ring of antibiotics like penicillin, making the antibiotic ineffective and causing resistance.

Polymyxins

A group of antibiotics that damage bacterial cell membranes, causing the bacteria to leak and die. They are mainly effective against Gram-negative bacteria.

Quinolones

A group of antibiotics that block bacterial DNA replication by interfering with enzymes needed to copy and repair DNA, causing bacterial death.

Tetracycline

An antibiotic that stops bacterial protein production by preventing bacteria from using their ribosomes to make proteins. It is usually bacteriostatic (stops growth rather than directly killing bacteria).

Chloramphenicol

An antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein production by preventing ribosomes from making proteins. It is usually bacteriostatic (stops bacterial growth).

Erythromycin

An antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein production by binding to the ribosome and stopping bacteria from making proteins. It is a macrolide antibiotic and is usually bacteriostatic.

Streptomycin

An antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein production by binding to the bacterial ribosome and causing errors when proteins are made. It is an aminoglycoside antibiotic and is usually bactericidal (kills bacteria).

Sulfonamides

Antibiotics that block bacterial folic acid production, which prevents bacteria from making DNA and proteins needed for growth. They are usually bacteriostatic (stop bacterial growth

Trimethoprim

An antibiotic that blocks bacterial folic acid production, preventing bacteria from making DNA and proteins needed for growth. It is usually bacteriostatic (stops bacterial growth).

Synergistic Effect

When two drugs or treatments work together and their combined effect is greater than the effect of either one alone. (Example: Trimethoprim + sulfonamides work better together to block bacterial folic acid production.)

Competitive inhibition

A process where a substance blocks an enzyme by competing with the normal substrate for the enzyme’s active site, preventing the enzyme from working properly. (Example: sulfonamides compete with molecules bacteria need to make folic acid.)

Resistant

A microorganism that can survive and continue growing despite the presence of an antimicrobial drug that would normally kill or stop it.

Susceptible

A microorganism that is sensitive to an antimicrobial drug and can be killed or stopped from growing by that drug.

Conjugation

A process where bacteria transfer DNA (usually a plasmid) from one bacterial cell to another through direct contact using a pilus. This can spread traits like antibiotic resistance.

Transformation

A process where a bacterium takes in free DNA from its environment and incorporates it into its own DNA, which can give it new traits like antibiotic resistance.

Transduction

A process where a bacteriophage (virus that infects bacteria) transfers DNA from one bacterium to another, allowing bacteria to gain new genetic traits.

Lateral Gene Transfer

The movement of genetic material between organisms of the same generation, rather than being passed from parent to offspring. In bacteria, it occurs through conjugation, transformation, and transduction and can spread traits like antibiotic resistance.

Mutation

A change in an organism’s DNA sequence that can create new traits, including traits that may help bacteria survive antibiotics.

Natural Selection

The process where organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce more successfully, causing those traits to become more common in a population over time. In bacteria, it can lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

MIC

(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration): The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial drug that prevents visible growth of bacteria. It shows how much antibiotic is needed to stop bacterial growth.

Therapeutic Index

A measure of the safety of a drug by comparing the dose that causes harm to the dose that produces a desired effect. A higher therapeutic index means the drug is generally safer.

kirby Bauer Test

A laboratory test used to determine if bacteria are susceptible or resistant to antibiotics by placing antibiotic disks on a bacteria-covered agar plate and measuring the zone of inhibition (area where bacteria do not grow).