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Glossary of Microbiology
Here is the related vocabulary words/terms grouped in Microbiology.
Antigenic Drift
form of slight antigenic variation that occurs because of point mutations in the genes that encode surface proteins
Antigenic Shift
form of major antigenic variation that occurs because of gene reassortment
Antigenic Variation
changing of surface antigens (carbohydrates or proteins) such that they are no longer recognized by the host’s immune system
Antimetabolites
compounds that are competitive inhibitors for bacterial metabolic enzymes
Antimicrobial Drugs
chemical compounds, including naturally produced drugs, semisynthetic derivatives, and synthetic compounds, that target specific microbial structures and enzymes, killing specific microbes or inhibiting their growth
Antimicrobial Peptides (amps)
class of nonspecific, cell-derived chemical mediators with broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties
Antisense Rna
small noncoding RNA molecules that inhibit gene expression by binding to mRNA transcripts via complementary base pairing
Antisense Strand
transcription template strand of DNA; the strand that is transcribed for gene expression
Antiseptic
antimicrobial chemical that can be used safely on living tissue
Antiserum
serum obtained from an animal containing antibodies against a particular antigen that was artificially introduced to the animal
Apoenzyme
enzyme without its cofactor or coenzyme
Apoptosis
programmed and organized cell death without lysis of the cell
Arbovirus
any of a variety of viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors
Ascocarps
cup-shaped fruiting bodies of an ascomycete fungus
B Lymphocyte
antibody-producing cells of humoral immunity; B cell
Bacillus (bacilli)
rod-shaped prokaryotic cell
Bacteremia
condition marked by the presence of bacteria in the blood
Bacteria
any of various unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms typically (but not always) having cell wells that contain peptidoglycan
Bacterial Lawn
layer of confluent bacterial growth on an agar plate
Bacterial Meningitis
bacterial infection that results in an inflammation of the meninges
Bacterial Vaginosis
a condition caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina that may or may not cause symptoms
Bactericidal
irreversible inhibition of a microbe’s ability to divide
Bactericide
chemical or physical treatment that kills bacteria
Bacteriochlorophylls
green, purple, or blue pigments of bacteria; they are similar to chlorophyll of plants
Bacteriology
the study of bacteria
Bacteriostatic
having the ability to inhibit bacterial growth, generally by means of chemical or physical treatment; reversible inhibition of a microbe’s ability to divide
Barophilea
organism that grows under high atmospheric pressure
Basal Body
component of eukaryotic flagellum or cilium composed of nine microtubule triplets and attaches the flagellum or cilium to the cell
Bioremediation
use of microbes to remove xenobiotics or environmental pollutants from a contaminated site
Biosynthesis
replication of viral genome and other protein components
Blastomycosis
fungal disease associated with infections by Blastomyces dermatitidis; can cause disfiguring scarring of the hands and other extremities
Blue-white Screening
a technique commonly used for identifying transformed bacterial cells containing recombinant plasmids using lacZ-encoding plasmid vectors
Blunt Ends
ends of DNA molecules lacking single-stranded complementary overhangs that are produced when some restriction enzymes cut DNA
Broad-spectrum Antimicrobial
drug that targets many different types of microbes
Budding Yeasts
yeasts that divide by budding off of daughter cells
Burst Size
the number of virions released from a host cell when it is lysed because of a viral infection
Candle Jar
container with a tight-fitting lid in which a burning candle consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, thereby creating an environment suitable for capnophiles
Capsid
protein coat surrounding the genome of the virus
Capsomere
individual protein subunits that make up the capsid
Capsule Staining
a negative staining technique that stains around a bacterial capsule while leaving the capsule clear
Coenzyme
organic molecule required for proper enzyme function that is not consumed and is reusable
Cofactor
inorganic ion that helps stabilize enzyme conformation and function
Communicable
able to be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person to another
Competitive Inhibitor
molecule that binds to an enzyme’s active site, preventing substrate binding
Complementary Base Pairs
base pairing due to hydrogen bonding that occurs between a specific purine and a specific pyrimidine; A bonds with T (in DNA), and C bonds with G
Complementary Dna
a DNA molecule complementary to mRNA that is made through the activity of reverse transcriptase
Complex Virus
virus shape that often includes intricate characteristics not seen in the other categories of capsid
Conidia
asexual fungal spores not enclosed in a sac; produced in a chain at the end of specialized hyphae called conidiophores
Conjunctivitis
inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane covering the eye and inside of the eyelid
Culture Medium
combination of compounds in solution that supports growth
Cytoplasm
the gel-like material composed of water and dissolved or suspended chemicals contained within the plasma membrane of a cell
Cytoskeleton
a network of filaments or tubules in the eukaryotic cell that provides shape and structural support for cells; aids movement of materials throughout the cell
Cytotoxic T Cells
effector cells of cellular immunity that target and eliminate cells infected with intracellular pathogens through induction of apoptosis
Cytotoxicity
harmful effects to host cell
Death Phase (decline Phase)
phase of the growth curve at which the number of dying cells exceeds the number of new cells formed
Decolorizing Agent
a substance that removes a stain, usually from some parts of the specimen
Definitive Host
the preferred host organism for a parasite, in which the parasite reaches maturity and may reproduce sexually
Degeneracy
redundancy in the genetic code because a given amino acid is encoded by more than one nucleotide triplet codon
Degranulation
release of the contents of mast cell granules in response to the cross-linking of IgE molecules on the cell surface with allergen molecules
Dehydration Synthesis
chemical reaction in which monomer molecules bind end to end in a process that results in the formation of water molecules as a byproduct
Deletion
type of mutation involving the removal of one or more bases from a DNA sequence
Denatured Protein
protein that has lost its secondary and tertiary structures (and quaternary structure, if applicable) without the loss of its primary structure
Dendrites
branched extensions of the soma of a neuron that interact with other cells
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (dna)
double-stranded nucleic acid composed of deoxyribonucleotides that serves as the genetic material of the cell
Desiccation
method of microbial control involving the removal of water from cells through drying or dehydration
Differential Staining
staining that uses multiple dyes to differentiate between structures or organisms
Diffraction
the changing of direction (bending or spreading) that occurs when a light wave interacts with an opening or barrier
Dikaryotic
having two separate nuclei within one cell
Dimorphic Fungus
a fungus that can take the form of a yeast or a mold, depending on environmental conditions
Dioecious
refers to sexually reproducing organisms in which individuals have either male or female reproductive organs (not both)
Direct Elisa
enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay in which the antigens are immobilized in the well of a microtiter plate; only a single antibody is used in the test
Disease
any condition in which the normal structure or function of the body is damaged or impaired
Disinfectant
antimicrobial chemical applied to a fomite during disinfection that may be toxic to tissues
Disinfection
protocol that removes potential pathogens from a formite
Dispersion
the separation of light of different frequencies due to different degrees of refraction
Dna Ligase
enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a covalent phosphodiester linkage between the 3’-OH end of one DNA fragment and the 5’ phosphate end of another DNA fragment
Dna Probe
a single-stranded DNA fragment that is complementary to part of the gene (DNA or RNA) of interest
Dry-heat Sterilization
protocol that involves the direct application of high heat
Dysentery
intestinal inflammation that causes diarrhea with blood and mucus
Dysuria
urination accompanied by burning, discomfort, or pain
Ectoplasm
outer, more gelatinous layer of cytoplasm under a protist cell membrane
Edema
swelling due to accumulation of fluid and protein in tissue as a result of increased permeability of capillary walls during an inflammatory response;
F Plasmid (fertility)
bacterial plasmid in E. coli containing genes encoding the ability to conjugate, including genes encoding the formation of the conjugation pilus
F+ (donor) Cell
E. coli cell containing the F plasmid, capable of forming a conjugation pilus
Facultative Anaerobe
organism that grows better in the presence of oxygen but can proliferate in its absence
Fermentation
process that uses an organic molecule as a final electron acceptor to regenerate NAD+ from NADH such that glycolysis can continue
Fever
system-wide sign of inflammation that raises the body temperature and stimulates the immune response
Fimbriae
filamentous appendages found by the hundreds on some bacterial cells; they aid adherence to host cells
Flagella Staining
a staaining protocol that uses a mordant to coat the flagella with stain until they are thick enough to be seen
Flocculant
visible aggregation that forms between a substance in suspension (e.g., lipid in water) and antibodies against the substance
Fluid Mosaic Model
refers to the ability of membrane components to move fluidly within the plane of the membrane, as well as the mosaic-like composition of the components
Fluorescence Microscope
a microscope that uses natural fluorochromes or fluorescent stains to increase contrast
Fluorescent
the ability of certain materials to absorb energy and then immediately release that energy in the form of light
Focal Infection
infection in which the pathogen causes infection in one location that then spreads to a secondary location
Free Ribosome
eukaryotic 80S ribosome found in the cytoplasm; synthesizes water-soluble proteins
Fungistatic
having the ability to inhibit fungal growth, generally by means of chemical or physical treatment
Gene Expression
production of proteins from the information contained in DNA through the processes of transcription and translation
Gene Gun
an apparatus that shoots gold or tungsten particles coated with recombinant DNA molecules at high speeds into plant protoplasts
Genetic Code
correspondence between mRNA nucleotide codons and the translated amino acids
Genomic Library
a repository of an organism’s entire genome maintained as cloned fragments in the genomes of strains of a host organism
Genotype
full collection of genes that a cell contains within its genome
Glycopeptides
class of antibacterials that inhibit cell wall synthesis by binding to peptidoglycan subunits and blocking their insertion into the cell wall backbone,
Gram Stain Procedure
a differential staining technique that distinguishes bacteria based upon their cell wall structure
Green Sulfur Bacteria,
anaerobic bacteria that use sulfide for oxidation and produce large amounts of green bacteriochlorophyll
Hapten
a molecule that is too small to be antigenic alone but becomes antigenic when conjugated to a larger protein molecule
Helicase
enzyme that unwinds DNA by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the nitrogenous base pairs, using ATP
Helper T Cells
class of T cells that is the central orchestrator of the cellular and humoral defenses of adaptive immunity and the cellular defenses of innate immunity
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