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