Microbiology
A branch of biology studying microscopic forms of life (as bacteria, protozoans, viruses, and fungi).
Pathogens
Microbes that cause disease
Bacteria
single-celled spherical or spiral or rod-shaped prokaryotic organisms that reproduce by fission
Virus
A tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell.
Antibiotics
Drugs that block the growth and reproduction of bacteria
Protozoa
animal-like protists
Antibodies
Y-shaped Proteins that attach to antigens, calling over white blood cells to get rid of the pathogen
White Blood Cells
Blood cells that perform the function of destroying disease-causing microorganisms in the immune system
Epidemic
outbreak of a rapidly spreading disease
Pandemic
A worldwide outbreak of disease.
Antibiotic resistance
when a bacterium no longer is affected or killed by an antibiotic; ex. a "superbug"
COVID-19
COronaVIrus Disease from 2019 caused by SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2
severe acute respiratory syndrome corona VIRUS #2 that causes COVID-19
MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Infection that is resistant to certain antibiotics; commonly found on the skin and starts as small, red bumps
Alexander Fleming
discovered Penicillin
Antigen
A protein found on cells and viruses that triggers the production of an antibody
gram negative
Describing the group of bacteria that have a cell wall that contains less peptidoglycan (thinner yet complex)
gram positive
Describing the group of bacteria that have a cell wall that contains more peptidoglycan (thicker yet simpler)
microorganism
a small organism that you need the help of a microscope to view it
petri dish
a shallow dish used to culture bacteria
Agar
a gel-like substance used for culturing (growing) microbes; extracted from certain seaweed
colony
a visible group of millions of bacteria growing on a solid medium, coming from from a single microorganism
Bacillus
Rod shaped bacteria
Cocci
spherical shaped bacteria
Spirilli
spiral shaped bacteria
Anaerobic
bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive; ex. in gums
Aerobic
Bacteria that require oxygen for survival
Archaea
One of two prokaryotic domains, the other being Bacteria; related closer to eukaryotes; extremeophiles
bacterium
singular form of bacteria
capsule, cell wall, plasma membrane
3 outer layers of bacteria cells from out to in
peptidoglycan
A protein-carbohydrate compound that makes the cell walls of bacteria rigid; archaea do not have any
vaccine
preventative substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity
examples of bacteria
Salmonella, E Coli, Listeria
examples of plant-like protists
diatoms, phytoplankton, algae
examples of protozoa
amoeba, paramecium, euglena
examples of microscopic fungi
yeast, mold, ringworm
zone of inhibition
Region around an antiseptic chemical saturated disc, where bacteria are unable to grow
binary fission
A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size
scientific name
The name given to each species, consisting of its Genus and its species label; ex. Staphylococcus aureus
incubator
An apparatus in which petri dishes are kept warm for optimal microbe growth
examples of viruses
herpes, influenza, Zika
Pasteurization
treating a substance with heat to kill or slow the growth of pathogens
safranin
Pink colored stain used in gram stain for gram-negative
crystal violet
purple colored stain in gram staining for gram-positive