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QR Challenge: Vocabulary in Microbiology (A-L)

QuestionAnswer
A staining procedure that differentiates between bacteria based on their ability to retain a dye when washed with an acid alcohol solution.acid-fast staining
The type of specific immunity that develops after exposure to a suitable antigen or is produced after antibodies are transferred from one individual to another.acquired immunity
An organism that grows in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.aerobe
Microorganisms that grow equally well whether or not oxygen is present.aerotolerant anaerobes
A complex sulfated polysaccharide, usually extracted from red algae, that is used as a solidifying agent in the preparation of culture media.agar
The formation of an insoluble immune complex by the cross-linking of cells or particles.agglutination reaction
The type of infectious organism transmission in which the pathogen is truly suspended in the air and travels over a meter or more from the source to the host. airborne transmission
A greenish zone of partial clearing around a bacterial colony growing on blood agar.alpha hemolysis
A cell with a single flagellum at each end.amphitrichous
An antibiotic from a strain of Streptomyces nodosus that is used to treat systemic fungal infections; it also is used topically to treat candidiasis.amphotericin B
An organism that grows in the absence of free oxygen. anaerobe
An immediate (type I) hypersensitivity reaction following exposure of a sensitized individual to the appropriate antigen. Mediated by reagin antibodies, chiefly IgE. anaphylaxis
Without oxygen present.anoxic
A microbial product or its derivative that kills susceptible microorganisms or inhibits their growth. antibiotic
An apparatus for sterilizing objects by the use of steam under pressure. Its development tremendously stimulated the growth of microbiology. autoclave
An organism that uses CO2 as its sole or principal source of carbon.autotroph
A mutated prototroph that lacks the ability to synthesize an essential nutrient and therefore must obtain it or a precursor from its surroundings.auxotroph
The organ of motility in spirochetes.axial filament
The presence of viable bacteria in the blood.bacteremia
A protein produced by a bacterial strain that kills other closely related strains.bacteriocin
A virus that uses bacteria as its host.bacteriophage
Inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria.bacteriostatic
A phagocytic leukocyte whose granules stain bluish-black with a basic dye. It has a segmented nucleus. The granules contain histamine and heparin. basophil
A zone of complete clearing around a bacterial colony growing on blood agar. beta hemolysis
Asexual reproduction in which a cell or an organism separates into two cells.binary fission
Organized microbial systems consisting of layers of microbial cells associated with surfaces, often with complex structural and functional characteristics. biofilms
The use of biologically mediated processes to remove or degrade pollutants from specific environments.bioremediation
The coupling of a biological process with production of an electrical signal or light to detect the presence of particular substances.biosensor
An acute infectious enteritis, endemic and epidemic in Asia, which periodically spreading to the Middle East, Africa, Southern Europe, and South America; caused by Vibrio cholerae.cholera
An enzyme that induces blood clotting; it is characteristically produced by pathogenic staphylococci.coagulase
A gram-negative, nonsporing, facultative rod that ferments lactose with gas formation within 48 hours at 35°C.coliform
Living on or within another organism without injuring or benefiting the other organism.commensal
A bacterial cell that can take up free DNA fragments and incorporate them into its genome during transformation.competent
A DNA copy of an RNA molecule. complementary DNA (cDNA)
A host with lowered resistance to infection and disease for any of several reasons.compromised host
The form of gene transfer and recombination in bacteria that requires direct cell-to-cell contact.conjugation
Culture medium made with components of known composition.defined medium
A treelike diagram that is used to graphically summarize mutual similarities and relationships between organisms. dendrogram
The reduction of nitrate to gas products, primarily nitrogen gas, during anaerobic respiration.denitrification
A thin film on the surface of teeth consisting of bacteria embedded in a matrix of bacterial polysaccharides, salivary glycoproteins, and other substances.dental plaque
To make a sensitized or hypersensitive individual insensitive or nonreactive to a sensitizing agent.desensitization
A pair of cocci.diplococcus
An enzyme that joins two DNA fragments together through the formation of a new phosphodiester bond.DNA ligase
An enzyme that synthesizes new DNA using a parental DNA strand as a template.DNA polymerase
The process in which a cell takes up solutes or particles by enclosing them in vesicles pinched off from its plasma membrane.endocytosis
An extremely heat- and chemical-resistant, dormant, thick-walled spore that develops within bacteria.endospore
An organism that lives within the body of another organism in a symbiotic association.endosymbiont
The heat-stable lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria that is released when the bacterium lyses, or sometimes during growth, and is toxic to the host.endotoxin
An acute inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, characterized by anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness.gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach.gastritis
The time required for a microbial population to double in number.generation time
A network of polysaccharides extending from the surface of bacteria and other cells. glycocalyx
An individual who harbors a pathogen, but is not ill.healthy carrier
A kidney disease characterized by blood in the urine and often by kidney failure. It is caused by enterohemorrhagic strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 that produce a Shiga-like toxin, which attacks the kidneys.hemolytic uremic syndrome
The body of an organism that harbors another organism.host
Granules of organic or inorganic material lying in the cytoplasmic matrix of bacteria.inclusion bodies
The period after pathogen entry into a host and before signs and symptoms appear.incubation period
The dose or number of organisms that will infect 50% of an experimental group of hosts within a specified time period.infectious dose 50 (ID50)
A localized protective response to tissue injury or destruction.inflammation
Molecules that can be inserted between the stacked bases of a DNA double helix, thereby distorting the DNA and inducing insertion and deletion mutations.intercalating agents
The ability of a microorganism to enter a host, grow and reproduce within the host, and spread throughout its body.invasiveness
A set of rules for proving that a microorganism causes a particular disease.Koch's postulates
A period following the introduction of microorganisms into fresh culture medium when there is no increase in cell numbers or mass during batch culture.lag phase
The dose or number of organisms that will kill 50% of an experimental group of hosts within a specified time period.lethal dose 50 (LD50)
A cell with a cluster of flagella at one or both ends.lophotrichous
Virus life cycle that results in the lysis of the host cell.lytic cycle

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