Dormancy - a state in which an organism’s metabolic activity (growth, development, physical activity) is temporarily halted or greatly reduced, helping to conserve energy; the organism is alive but not actively growing; a state adopted by many bacteria under unfavorable environmental conditions (or in the presence of selective pressure such as antibiotics)

Endospores - a survival form of some bacteria that protects against environmental extremes; a dormant, hardy, non-replicating form of bacteria that are resistant to most agents that kill vegetative bacteria

Autolysis - the self-digestion or self-destruction of cells through the action of their own enzymes.

Flagellum - the main structural protein constituting flagella; a TLR agonist

Biofilm - multilayered bacterial populations embedded in a polysaccharide, protein, or DNA matrix that is attached to some surface (plastic, mucosal membrane, teeth, or implanted medical device)

Mucin - multilayered bacterial populations embedded in a polysaccharide, protein, or DNA matrix that is attached to some surface (plastic, mucosal membrane, teeth, or implanted medical device)

sIgA - secretory immunoglobulin A; the dimeric form of IgA with two IgA molecules bound by a piece of the receptor protein (secretory piece) that is found in luminal secretions; provides local immune protection for mucosal membranes by binding both mucin and bacteria, which are then sloughed of

Defensins - a specific type of antimicrobial peptide comprised of cysteine-rich cationic peptides and used by mammalian host cells to kill bacteria

iron chelator - An iron chelator is a substance that binds to free iron in the environment, reducing its availability to microorganisms. Many pathogens produce iron chelators (siderophores) to scavenge iron from the host, which is essential for their growth.

pili (fimbriae) - long, thick protein structures on the surfaces of bacteria that mediate adherence through a special protein(s) at the tip

Adhesins - microbial surface components that bind to the host cell surface receptors

Integrins - heterodimeric protein receptors (comprised of α and β subunits) on the surfaces of cells that mediate attachment between the cell and the surrounding tissues (cells or extracellular matrix); integrins on PMNs bind to ICAMs on endothelial cells; binding stops the movement of PMNs through the bloodstream

Capsule -  an extracellular network, often of exopolysaccharides, but sometimes peptides, that covers the cell surfaces of some bacteria and usually interferes with phagocytosis

Invasins - a bacterial surface protein that provokes endocytic uptake by host cells

Inclusion - Inclusion bodies are aggregates of proteins or other materials within cells. In the context of pathogens, they can refer to structures formed during viral replication or as a result of infection.

reticulate body -  formed from the elementary body, large intracellular non-infectious form that is metabolically active

elementary body - small, extracellular, infectious form that is metabolically inactive; EB contained in a specialized vacuole called an inclusion

acid tolerance - Acid tolerance refers to the ability of some microorganisms to survive and grow in acidic environments, such as the stomach.

Superoxide dismutase - converts reactive oxygen species to hydrogen peroxide: → O2- to H2O2

Catalase -  converts hydrogen peroxide to water: → H2O2 to H2O

Salmonella-containing vacuole - Salmonella escapes the phagolysosomal pathway by modifying the phagosome into specialized vacuole; SCV does not fuse with lysosomes

Staphylokinase - dissolves blood clots