Prokaryote	Unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus
Peptidoglycan	A rigid envelope surrounding the membrane of a bacterial cell, made of sugars and amino acids. Acts as a barrier for protection.
Flagella	A hairlike structure used for movement
Pili	Short, hair-like structures on the cell surface of prokaryotic cells. They can have a role in movement but are more often involved in adhering to surfaces.
Binary Fission	Type of asexual reproduction in which an organism replicates its DNA and divides in half, producing two identical daughter cells
Endospore	Structure produced by prokaryotes in unfavorable conditions; a thick internal wall that encloses the DNA and a portion of the cytoplasm
Conjugation	Process in which genetic information is exchanged through a hollow tube that connects the two cells
Nitrogen Fixation	The process of prokaryotic organisms that transform nitrogen gas from the atmosphere into a compound that organisms can use.
Pathogen	Disease-causing agent
Vaccine	Preparation of weakened or killed pathogens used to produce immunity to a disease
Antibiotic	A group of drugs used to block the growth and reproduction of bacterial pathogens
Germ Theory	The theory that certain diseases are caused by the invasion of the body by microorganisms
Microbiome	The community of microorganisms that live in or on a particular part of the body, such as the skin or gastrointestinal tract
Photoautotroph	Use light energy to convert CO2 into carbon compounds. “Light self-feeder”
Obligate Anaerobe	Fermentation; dies in the presence of oxygen. “Requiring a lack of oxygen”
Obligate Aerobe	Cellular respiration; must have a ready supply of oxygen to release fuel energy. “Requiring Oxygen”
Facultative Anaerobe	Can use either cellular respiration or fermentation as necessary. “Surviving without oxygen when necessary”
Virus	A particle made of protein, nucleic acids, and sometimes lipids that can replicate only by infecting living cells.
Retrovirus	A virus that contains RNA as its genetic information
Prophage	The DNA from a bacteriophage that is embedded in the bacterial host’s DNA
Bacteriophage	A type of virus that infects Bacteria
Capsid	A protein coat surrounding a virus
Lytic Infection	Type of infection in which a virus enters a cell makes copies of itself and causes the cell to burst
Lysogenic Infection	Type of infection in which a virus embeds its DNA into the DNA of the host cell and is replicated along with the host cell’s DNA

Bio microbiology vocab