Glossary of Microbiology

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Agar plate with colonies
Microbiologie Générale
Petri dish

#-9[edit | edit source]

  • 454 sequencing (pyrosequencing) a next generation sequencing technique in which fragmented DNA has DNA adapters attached, is amplified by PCR, is attached to a bead, and then placed into a well with sequencing reagents, and the flash of light produced by the release of pyrophosphate on addition of a nucleotide is monitored
  • 5’ cap methylguanosine nucleotide added to 5’ end of a eukaryotic primary transcript
  • 80S ribosome cytoplasmic eukaryotic ribosome composed of 60S and 40S subunits

A[edit | edit source]

  • α-helix secondary structure consisting of a helix stabilized by hydrogen bonds between nearby amino acid residues in a polypeptide
  • A (aminoacyl) site functional site of an intact ribosome that binds incoming charged aminoacyl tRNAs
  • A-B exotoxin class of exotoxin that contains A subunits, which enter the cell and disrupt cellular activities, and B subunits, which bind to host cell receptors
  • ABO blood group system set of glycoprotein antigens found on the surface of red blood cells; the presence or absence of specific carbohydrates determining blood type
  • absorbance when a molecule captures energy from a photon and vibrates or stretches, using the energy
  • Acanthamoeba keratitis a condition characterized by damage to the cornea and possible blindness caused by parasitic infection of the protozoan Acanthamoeba
  • acid-fast stain a stain that differentiates cells that have waxy mycolic acids in their gram-positive cell walls
  • acidic dye a chromophore with a negative charge that attaches to positively charged structures
  • acidophile organism that grows optimally at a pH near 3.0
  • acne a skin disease in which hair follicles or pores become clogged, leading to the formation of comedones and infected lesions
  • actin a protein that polymerizes to form microfilaments
  • activation energy energy needed to form or break chemical bonds and convert a reactant or reactants to a product or products
  • activator protein that increases the transcription of a gene in response to an external stimulus
  • active carrier an infected individual who can transmit the pathogen to others regardless of whether symptoms are currently present
  • active site location within an enzyme where substrate(s) bind
  • acute disease disease of a relatively short duration that develops and progresses in a predictable pattern
  • acute glomerulonephritis inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney, probably resulting from deposition of immune complexes and an autoimmune response caused by self-antigen mimicry by a pathogen
  • acute otitis media inflammatory disease of the middle ear resulting from a microbial infection
  • acute-phase proteins antimicrobial molecules produced by liver cells in response to pathogen-induced stimulation events
  • acyclovir antiviral guanosine analog; inhibits DNA replication
  • adenine purine nitrogenous base found in nucleotides
  • adenosine monophosphate (AMP) adenine molecule bonded to a ribose molecule and to a single phosphate group, having no high-energy phosphate bonds
  • adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy currency of the cell; a nucleotide derivative that safely stores chemical energy in its two high-energy phosphate bonds
  • adhesins molecules on the surface of pathogens that promote colonization of host tissue
  • adhesion the capability of microbes to attach to host cells
  • aerobic respiration use of an oxygen molecule as the final electron acceptor of the electron transport system
  • affinity maturation function of the immune system by which B cells, upon re-exposure to antigen, are selected to produce higher affinity antibodies
  • affinity measure of how tightly an antibody-binding site binds to its epitope
  • aflatoxin chemical produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus; both a toxin and the most potent known natural carcinogen
  • agarose gel electrophoresis a method for separating populations of DNA molecules of varying sizes by differential migration rates caused by a voltage gradient through a horizontal gel matrix
  • agglutination binding of different pathogen cells by Fab regions of the same antibody to aggregate and enhance elimination from body
  • alarmone small intracellular derivative of a nucleotide that signals a global bacterial response (i.e., activating a regulon of operons) to an environmental stress
  • albendazole antihelminthic drug of the benzimidazole class that binds to helminthic β-tubulin, preventing microtubule formation
  • algae (singular: alga) any of various unicellular and multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms; distinguished from plants by their lack of vascular tissues and organs
  • alkaliphile organism that grows optimally at pH above 9.0
  • alkylating agent type of strong disinfecting chemical that acts by replacing a hydrogen atom within a molecule with an alkyl group, thereby inactivating enzymes and nucleic acids
  • allergen antigen capable of inducing type I hypersensitivity reaction
  • allergy hypersensitivity response to an allergen
  • allograft transplanted tissue from an individual of the same species that is genetically different from the recipient
  • allosteric activator molecule that binds to an enzyme’s allosteric site, increasing the affinity of the enzyme’s active site for the substrate(s)
  • allosteric site location within an enzyme, other than the active site, to which molecules can bind, regulating enzyme activity
  • allylamines class of antifungal drugs that inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis at an early point in the pathway
  • alveoli cul-de-sacs or small air pockets within the lung that facilitate gas exchange
  • amantadine antiviral drug that targets the influenza virus by preventing viral escape from endosomes upon host cell uptake, thus preventing viral RNA release and subsequent viral replication
  • amensalism type of symbiosis in which one population harms the other but remains unaffected itself
  • Ames test method that uses auxotrophic bacteria to detect mutations resulting from exposure to potentially mutagenic chemical compounds
  • amino acid a molecule consisting of a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, and an amine group bonded to the same carbon. The group bonded to the carbon varies and is represented by an R in the structural formula
  • aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase enzyme that binds to a tRNA molecule and catalyzes the addition of the correct amino acid to the tRNA
  • aminoglycosides protein synthesis inhibitors that bind to the 30S subunit and interfere with the ribosome’s proofreading ability, leading to the generation of faulty proteins that insert into and disrupt the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane
  • amoebiasis intestinal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica
  • amoebic dysentery severe form of intestinal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, characterized by severe diarrhea with blood and mucus
  • amphipathic a molecule containing both polar and nonpolar parts
  • amphitrichous having two flagella or tufts of multiple flagella, with one flagellum or tuft located at each end of the bacterial cell
  • amphotericin B antifungal drug of the polyene class that is used to treat several systemic fungal infections
  • anabolism chemical reactions that convert simpler molecules into more complex ones
  • anaerobe chamber closed compartment used to handle and grow obligate anaerobic cultures
  • anaerobe jar container devoid of oxygen used to grow obligate anaerobes
  • anaerobic respiration use of a non-oxygen inorganic molecule, like CO2, nitrate, nitrite, oxidized iron, or sulfate, as the final electron acceptor at the end of the electron transport system
  • analytical epidemiology study of disease outbreaks to establish associations between an agent and a disease state through observational studies comparing groups of individuals
  • anaphylaxis systemic and potentially life-threatening type I hypersensitivity reaction
  • anergy peripheral tolerance mechanism that prevents self-reactive T cells from being activated by self-antigens through lack of co-stimulation
  • annealing formation of hydrogen bonds between the nucleotide base pairs of two single-stranded complementary nucleic acid sequences
  • anoxygenic photosynthesis type of photosynthesis found in many photosynthetic bacteria, including the purple and green bacteria, where an electron donor other than H2O is used to replace an electron lost by a reaction center pigment, resulting no oxygen production
  • anthrax a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis; the cutaneous form causes a skin lesion to develop; gastrointestinal and inhalation anthrax have high mortality rates
  • antibiogram compilation of the antimicrobial susceptibilities recorded for local bacterial strains, which is useful for monitoring local trends in antimicrobial resistance and aiding the prescription of appropriate empiric antibacterial therapy
  • antibiotic-associated diarrhea diarrhea that develops after antibiotic treatment as a result of disruption to the normal microbiota; C. difficile is a particularly serious example
  • antibody screen test to make sure that a potential blood recipient has not produced antibodies to antigens other than the ABO and Rh antigens
  • antibody Y-shaped glycoprotein molecule produced by B cells that binds to specific epitopes on an antigen
  • anticodon three-nucleotide sequence of a mature tRNA that interacts with an mRNA codon through complementary base pairing
  • antigenic able to stimulate an adaptive immune response
  • 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
  • antigen-presenting cells (APC) macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells that process and present foreign pathogen antigens for the purpose of activating T cells and adaptive immune defenses
  • 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
  • antiparallel two strands of DNA helix oriented in opposite directions; one strand is oriented in the 5’ to 3’ direction, while the other is oriented in the 3’ to 5’ direction
  • 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
  • antisepsis protocol that removes potential pathogens from living tissue
  • 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
  • arachnoid mater middle membrane surrounding the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid
  • arbovirus any of a variety of viruses that are transmitted by arthropod vectors
  • archaea any of various unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms, typically having cell walls containing pseudopeptidoglycan
  • Archaea domain of life separate from the domains Bacteria and Eukarya
  • artemisinin antiprotozoan and antifungal drug effective against malaria that is thought to increase intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species in target microbes
  • artery large, thick-walled vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body tissues
  • artificial active immunity immunity acquired through exposure to pathogens and pathogen antigens through a method other than natural infection
  • artificial passive immunity transfer of antibodies produced by a donor to another individual for the purpose of preventing or treating disease
  • ascariasis soil-transmitted intestinal infection caused by the large nematode roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides
  • ascocarps cup-shaped fruiting bodies of an ascomycete fungus
  • ascospore asexual spore produced by ascomycete fungi
  • ascus structure of ascomycete fungi containing spores
  • asepsis sterile state resulting from proper use of microbial control protocols
  • aseptic technique method or protocol designed to prevent microbial contamination of sterile objects, locations, or tissues
  • aspergillosis fungal infection caused by the mold Aspergillus; immunocompromised patients are primarily at risk
  • asymptomatic carrier an infected individual who exhibits no signs or symptoms of disease yet is capable of transmitting the pathogen to others
  • atomic force microscope a scanning probe microscope that uses a thin probe that is passed just above the specimen to measure forces between the atoms and the probe
  • ATP synthase integral membrane protein that harnesses the energy of the proton motive force by allowing hydrogen ions to diffuse down their electrochemical gradient, causing components of this protein to spin, making ATP from ADP and Pi
  • attachment binding of phage or virus to host cell receptors
  • attenuation regulatory system of prokaryotes whereby secondary stem-loop structures formed within the 5’ end of an mRNA being transcribed determine both if transcription to complete the synthesis of this mRNA will occur and if this mRNA will be used for translation
  • autoclave specialized device for the moist-heat sterilization of materials through the application of pressure to steam, allowing the steam to reach temperatures above the boiling point of water
  • autocrine function refers to a cytokine signal released from a cell to a receptor on its own surface
  • autograft tissue transplanted from a location on an individual to a different location on the same individual
  • autoimmune disease loss of tolerance to self, resulting in immune-mediated destruction of self cells and tissues
  • autoinducer signaling molecule produced by a bacterial cell that can modify the activity of surrounding cells; associated with quorum sensing
  • autoradiography the method of producing a photographic image from radioactive decay; in molecular genetics the method allows the visualization of radioactively-labeled DNA probes that have hybridized to a nucleic acid sample
  • autotroph organism that converts inorganic carbon dioxide into organic carbon
  • auxotroph nutritional mutant with a loss-of-function mutation in a gene encoding the biosynthesis of a specific nutrient such as an amino acid
  • avidity strength of the sum of the interactions between an antibody and antigen
  • axon long projection of a neuron along which an electrochemical signal is transmitted
  • azithromycin semisynthetic macrolide with increased spectrum of activity, decreased toxicity, and increased half-life compared with erythromycin

B[edit | edit source]

  • β-lactamases bacterially produced enzymes that cleave the β-lactam ring of susceptible β-lactam antimicrobials, rendering them inactive and conferring resistance
  • β-lactams group of antimicrobials that inhibit cell wall synthesis; includes the penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams; inhibits the transpeptidase cross-linking activity of penicillin-binding proteins
  • β-oxidation process of fatty acid degradation that sequentially removes two-carbon acetyl groups, producing NADH and FADH2, on entry into the Krebs cycle
  • β-pleated sheet secondary structure consisting of pleats formed by hydrogen bonds between localized segments of amino acid residues on the backbone of the polypeptide chain
  • B-cell receptors (BCRs) membrane-bound IgD and IgM antibody that bind specific antigen epitopes with Fab antigen-binding region
  • B lymphocyte antibody-producing cells of humoral immunity; B cell
  • babesiosis tickborne protozoan infection caused by Babesia spp. and characterized by malaise, fatigue, fever, headache, myalgia, and joint pain
  • bacillary dysentery gastrointestinal illness caused by Shigella bacteria, also called shigellosis
  • bacillus (bacilli) rod-shaped prokaryotic cell
  • bacitracin group of structurally similar peptides that block the movement of peptidoglycan precursors across the cell membrane, inhibiting peptidoglycan synthesis
  • bacteremia condition marked by the presence of bacteria in the blood
  • bacteria (singular: bacterium) any of various unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms typically (but not always) having cell wells that contain peptidoglycan
  • 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
  • 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
  • barophile 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
  • base sequence identity of the specific nucleotides present in a nucleic acid strand and their order within the strand
  • basic dye a chromophore with a positive charge that attaches to negatively charged structures
  • basidiospores spores produced sexually via budding in basidiomycete fungi
  • basophils leukocytes with granules containing histamine and other chemicals that facilitate allergic responses and inflammation when released
  • benzimidazoles class of antihelminthic drugs that bind to helminthic β-tubulin, preventing microtubule formation
  • binary fission predominant form of bacterial reproduction in which one cell divides into two daughter cells of equal size, which separate, each offspring receiving a complete copy of the parental genome
  • binomial nomenclature a universal convention for the scientific naming of organisms using Latinized names for genus and species
  • biofilm complex ecosystem of bacteria embedded in a matrix
  • biogeochemical cycle recycling of inorganic matter between living organisms and their nonliving environment
  • bioinformatics the analysis of large amounts of information required for interpretation of these data
  • biological transmission movement of a pathogen between hosts facilitated by a biological vector in which the pathogen grows and reproduces
  • biological vector an animal (typically an arthropod) that is infected with a pathogen and is capable of transmitting the pathogen from one host to another
  • biomarker a protein expressed by a cell or tissue that is indicative of disease
  • bioremediation use of microbes to remove xenobiotics or environmental pollutants from a contaminated site
  • biosynthesis replication of viral genome and other protein components
  • biotechnology the science of using living systems to benefit humankind
  • bisbiguanide type of chemical compound with antiseptic properties; disrupts cell membranes at low concentrations and causes congealing of intracellular contents at high concentrations
  • blastomycosis fungal disease associated with infections by Blastomyces dermatitidis; can cause disfiguring scarring of the hands and other extremities
  • blocking antibodies antigen-specific antibodies (usually of the IgG type) produced via desensitization therapy
  • blood-brain barrier tight cell junctions of the endothelia lining the blood vessels that serve the central nervous system, preventing passage of microbes from the bloodstream into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid
  • 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
  • botulism form of flaccid paraylsis caused by the ingestion of a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum
  • bradykinin activated form of a proinflammatory molecule induced in the presence of invader microbes; opens gaps between cells in blood vessels, allowing fluid and cells to leak into surrounding tissue
  • bridge reaction reaction linking glycolysis to the Krebs cycle during which each pyruvate is decarboxylated and oxidized (forming NADH), and the resulting two-carbon acetyl group is attached to a large carrier called coenzyme A, resulting in the formation of acetyl-CoA and CO; also called the transition reaction
  • brightfield microscope a compound light microscope with two lenses; it produces a dark image on a bright background
  • bronchi major air passages leading to the lungs after bifurcating at the windpipe
  • bronchioles smaller air passages within the lung that are formed as the bronchi become further subdivided
  • brucellosis zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella that results in undulant fever
  • bubo swollen, inflamed lymph node that forms as a result of a microbial infection
  • bubonic plague most common form of plague in humans, marked by the presence of swollen lymph nodes (buboes)
  • budding unequal reproductive division in which a smaller cell detaches from the parent cell
  • Burkitt lymphoma disease characterized by rapidly growing solid tumor; caused by Epstein-Barr virus (HHV-4)
  • burst release of new virions by a lysed host cell infected by a virus
  • burst size the number of virions released from a host cell when it is lysed because of a viral infection

C[edit | edit source]

  • Calvin-Benson cycle most common CO2 fixation pathway in most photoautotrophs; involves light-independent reactions of photosynthesis that occur in the cytoplasm of photosynthetic bacteria and in the stroma of eukaryotic chloroplasts
  • candidiasis fungal infection caused by Candida spp., especially C. albicans; can affect various regions of the body, e.g., skin (cutaneous candidiasis), oral cavity (oral thrush), or vagina (yeast 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
  • capillary small blood vessel found in the interstitial space of tissue; delivers nutrients and oxygen, and removes waste products
  • capnophile organism that requires carbon dioxide levels higher than atmospheric concentration
  • 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
  • capsule type of glycocalyx with organized layers of polysaccharides that aid in bacterial adherence to surfaces and in evading destruction by immune cells
  • carbohydrate the most abundant type of biomolecule, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
  • carbon skeleton chain of carbon atoms to which one or more functional groups are bound
  • carboxysome an inclusion composed of an outer shell of thousands of protein subunits. Its interior is filled with ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) and carbonic anhydrase, which are both used for carbon metabolism
  • carbuncle abscess containing a large, deep, purulent skin lesion
  • case-control study a type of observational study in which a group of affected individuals are compared, usually retrospectively, to a similar group of unaffected individuals
  • catabolism chemical reactions that break down complex molecules into simpler ones
  • catabolite repression repression of the transcription of operons encoding enzymes for the use of substrates other than glucose when glucose levels are high
  • catalase enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
  • catalyst molecule that increases the rate of a chemical reaction but is not used or changed during the chemical reaction and, thus, is reusable
  • catarrhal stage in pertussis, a disease stage marked by inflammation of the mucous membranes combined with excessive secretions
  • cat-scratch disease bacterial infection of the lymph nodes caused by Bartonella henselae; frequently transmitted via a cat scratch
  • causative agent the pathogen or substance responsible for causing a particular disease; etiologic agent
  • celiac disease disease largely of the small intestine caused by an immune response to gluten that results in the production of autoantibodies and an inflammatory response
  • cell envelope the combination of external cellular structures (e.g., plasma membrane, cell wall, outer membrane, glycocalyces) that collectively contain the cytoplasm and internal structures of a cell
  • cell membrane lipid bilayer with embedded proteins and carbohydrates that defines the boundary of the cell (also called the cytoplasmic membrane or plasma membrane)
  • cell morphology cell shape, structure, and arrangement, as viewed microscopically
  • cell theory the theory that all organisms are composed of cells and that the cell is the fundamental unit of life
  • cell wall a structure in the cell envelope of some cells that helps the cell maintain its shape and withstand changes in osmotic pressure
  • cellular immunity adaptive immunity involving T cells and the destruction of pathogens and infected cells
  • cellulitis a subcutaneous skin infection that develops in the dermis or hypodermis, resulting in a red, painful inflammation
  • cellulose a structural polysaccharide composed of glucose monomers linked together in a linear chain by glycosidic bonds
  • central dogma scientific principle explaining the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein
  • centriole a component of a centrosome with the structural array of nine parallel microtubules arranged in triplets; involved in eukaryotic cell division
  • centrosome a microtubule-organizing center for the mitotic spindle found in animal cells; it separates chromosomes during cell division and is composed of a pair of centrioles positioned at right angles to each other
  • cephalosporins a group of cell wall synthesis inhibitors within the class of β-lactams
  • cercarial dermatitis inflammation of the skin caused by a reaction to cercaria of Schistosoma spp., which can penetrate the skin and blood vessels; also called swimmer’s itch or clam digger’s itch
  • cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sterile liquid produced in the brain that fills the subarachnoid space of the brain and spinal column
  • cervix the part of the uterus that connects to the vagina
  • CFB group phylum consisting of the gram-negative, rod-shaped nonproteobacteria genera Cytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroides
  • Chagas disease potentially fatal protozoan infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and endemic to Central and South America; transmitted by the triatomine bug (kissing bug)
  • chancroid an STI caused by Haemophilus ducreyi that produces soft chancres on genitals
  • charged tRNA activated tRNA molecule carrying its cognate amino acid
  • chemical mediators chemicals or enzymes produced by a variety of cells; provide nonspecific antimicrobial defense mechanisms
  • chemiosmosis flow of hydrogen ions across the membrane through ATP synthase
  • chemokines chemotactic cytokines that recruit specific subsets of leukocytes to infections, damaged tissue, and sites of inflammation
  • chemotaxis directional movement of a cell in response to a chemical attractant
  • chemotroph organism that gets its energy from the transfer of electrons originating from chemical compounds
  • chickenpox common childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus and marked by the formation of pustular lesions on the trunk
  • chikungunya fever mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus and characterized by high fever, joint pain, rash, and blisters
  • chirality property of stereoisomer molecules by which their structures are nonsuperimposable mirror-images
  • chitin polysaccharide that is an important component of fungal cell walls
  • chlamydia a common STI caused by Chlamydia trachomatis
  • chloramphenicol protein synthesis inhibitor with broad-spectrum activity that binds to the 50S subunit, inhibiting peptide bond formation
  • chlorophyll a type of photosynthetic pigment found in some prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
  • chloroplast organelle found in plant and algal cells in which photosynthesis occurs
  • cholera gastrointestinal illness caused by Vibrio cholera characterized by severe diarrhea
  • chromatin combination of DNA with DNA binding proteins
  • chromogenic substrate colorless substrate (chromogen) that is converted into a colored end product by the enzyme
  • chromophores pigments that absorb and reflect particular wavelengths of light (giving them a color)
  • chromosome discrete DNA structure within a cell that controls cellular activities
  • chronic granulomatous disease primary immunodeficiency caused by an impaired ability of phagocytic cells to kill ingested bacteria in the phagolysosome
  • cilia (singular: cilium) short filamentous structures found on some eukaryotic cells; each is composed of microtubules in a 9+2 array, and may be used for locomotion, feeding, and/or movement of extracellular particles that come in contact with the cell
  • ciliated epithelial cells hair-like cells in the respiratory tract that beat, pushing mucus secretions and trapped debris away from the sensitive tissues of the lungs
  • ciliates protists with cilia (Ciliophora), including Paramecium and Stentor, classified within the Chromalveolata
  • cisternae the sacs of the endoplasmic reticulum
  • class switching genetic rearrangement of constant region gene segments in plasma cells to switch antibody production from IgM to IgG, IgA, or IgE
  • clindamycin semisynthetic protein synthesis inhibitor of the lincosamide class that binds to the 50S subunit, inhibiting peptide bond formation
  • clone a genetically identical cell or individual
  • coagulase enzyme that causes the activation of fibrinogen to form fibrin, promoting clotting of the blood
  • coarse focusing knob a knob on a microscope that produces relatively large movements to adjust focus
  • coccidioidomycosis disease caused by the highly infectious fungal pathogen Coccidioides immitis and related species
  • codon three-nucleotide sequence within mRNA that specifies a particular amino acid to be incorporated into the polypeptide being synthesized
  • coenocyte multinucleated eukaryotic cell that forms as a result of multiple rounds of nuclear division without the accompanying division of the plasma membrane
  • coenocytic hyphae nonseptate hyphae that are multinucleate and lack cell walls or membranes between cells; characteristic of some fungi
  • 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
  • cognate amino acid amino acid added to a specific tRNA molecule that correctly corresponds to the tRNA’s anticodon and, hence, the mRNA’s codon, reflecting the genetic code
  • cohort method a method used in observational studies in which a group of individuals is followed over time and factors potentially important in the development of disease are evaluated
  • colistin membrane-active polymyxin that was historically used for bowel decontamination but now used for systemic infections with drug-resistant pathogens
  • colitis inflammation of the large intestine
  • collagenase enzyme that digests collagen, the dominant protein in connective tissue
  • colony-forming unit (CFU) a counting quantity represented by a colony formed on solid medium from a single cell or a few cells
  • commensalism type of symbiosis in which one population benefits and the other is not affected
  • commercial sterilization type of sterilization protocol used in food production; uses conditions that are less harsh (lower temperatures) to preserve food quality but still effectively destroy vegetative cells and endospores of common foodborne pathogens such as Clostridium botulinum
  • common cold most common cause of rhinitis in humans; associated with a variety of adenoviruses, coronaviruses, and rhinoviruses
  • common source spread a mode of disease transmission in which every infection originates from the same source
  • communicable able to be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person to another
  • community group of interacting populations of organisms
  • complement activation cascading activation of the complement proteins in the blood, resulting in opsonization, inflammation, and lysis of pathogens
  • complement system series of proteins that can become activated in the presence of invading microbes, resulting in opsonization, inflammation, and lysis of pathogens
  • 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 (cDNA) a DNA molecule complementary to mRNA that is made through the activity of reverse transcriptase
  • complex media media that contain extracts of animals and plants that are not chemically defined
  • complex virus virus shape that often includes intricate characteristics not seen in the other categories of capsid
  • condenser lens a lens on a microscope that focuses light from the light source onto the specimen
  • conditional mutation mutant form of a gene whose mutant phenotype is expressed only under certain environmental conditions
  • confocal microscope a scanning laser microscope that uses fluorescent dyes and excitation lasers to create three-dimensional images
  • conidia asexual fungal spores not enclosed in a sac; produced in a chain at the end of specialized hyphae called conidiophores
  • conjugate vaccine a vaccine consisting of a polysaccharide antigen conjugated to a protein to enhance immune response to the polysaccharide; conjugate vaccines are important for young children who do not respond well to polysaccharide antigens
  • conjugation mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria in which DNA is directly transferred from one bacterial cell to another by a conjugation pilus
  • conjugation pilus (sex pilus) hollow tube composed of protein encoded by the conjugation plasmid that brings two bacterial cells into contact with each other for the process of conjugation
  • conjunctiva the mucous membranes covering the eyeball and inner eyelid
  • conjunctivitis inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane covering the eye and inside of the eyelid
  • constitutively expressed describes genes that are transcribed and translated continuously to provide the cell with constant intermediate levels of the protein products
  • contact dermatitis inflammation of the skin resulting from a type IV hypersensitivity to an allergen or irritant
  • contact transmission movement of a pathogen between hosts due to contact between the two; may be direct or indirect
  • continuous cell line derived from transformed cells or tumors, these cells are often able to be subcultured many times, or, in the case of immortal cell lines, grown indefinitely
  • continuous common source spread a mode of disease transmission in which every infection originates from the same source and that source produces infections for longer than one incubation period
  • contractile vacuoles organelles found in some cells, especially in some protists, that take up water and then move the water out of the cell for osmoregulatory purposes (i.e., to maintain an appropriate salt and water balance)
  • contrast visible differences between parts of a microscopic specimen
  • Coombs’ reagent antiserum containing antihuman immunoglobulins used to facilitate hemagglutination by cross-linking the human antibodies attached to red blood cells
  • cortex tightly packed layer of fungal filaments at the outer surface of a lichen; foliose lichens have a second cortex layer beneath the medulla
  • counterstain a secondary stain that adds contrasting color to cells from which the primary stain has been washed out by a decolorizing agent
  • crisis phase point at which a fever breaks, reaching a peak before the hypothalamus resets back to normal body temperature
  • critical item object that must be sterile because it will be used inside the body, often penetrating sterile tissues or the bloodstream
  • cross-match in the major cross-match, donor red blood cells are checked for agglutination using recipient serum; in the minor cross-match, donor serum is checked for agglutinizing antibodies against recipient red blood cells
  • cross-presentation a mechanism by which dendritic cells process antigens for MHC I presentation to CD8 T cells through phagocytosis of the pathogen (which would normally lead to MHC II presentation)
  • cross-resistance when a single resistance mechanism confers resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs
  • cross-sectional study a type of observational study in which measurements are made on cases, both affected and unaffected, at one point in time and the measurements analyzed to uncover associations with the disease state
  • crustose lichens lichens that are tightly attached to the substrate, giving them a crusty appearance
  • cryptococcosis fungal pneumonia caused by the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans commonly found in bird droppings
  • cryptosporidiosis intestinal infection caused by Cryptosporidium parvum or C. hominis
  • culture medium combination of compounds in solution that supports growth
  • cutaneous mycosis any fungal infection that affects the surface of the skin, hair, or nails
  • cyanobacteria phototrophic, chlorophyll-containing bacteria that produce large amounts of gaseous oxygen
  • cyclic AMP (cAMP) intracellular signaling molecule made through the action of adenylyl cyclase from ATP when glucose levels are low, with the ability to bind to a catabolite activator protein to allow it to bind to regulatory regions and activate the transcription of operons encoding enzymes for metabolism of alternative substrates
  • cyclic photophosphorylation pathway used in photosynthetic organisms when the cell’s need for ATP outweighs that for NADPH, thus bypassing NADPH production
  • cystic echinococcosis hydatid disease, an infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus that can cause cyst formation
  • cysts microbial cells surrounded by a protective outer covering; some microbial cysts are formed to help the microbe survive harsh conditions, whereas others are a normal part of the life cycle
  • cytochrome oxidase final ETS complex used in aerobic respiration that transfers energy-depleted electrons to oxygen to form H2O
  • cytokine storm an excessive release of cytokines, typically triggered by a superantigen, that results in unregulated activation of T cells
  • cytokines protein molecules that act as a chemical signals; produced by cells in response to a stimulation event
  • cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection human herpesvirus 5 infection that is typically asymptomatic but can become serious in immunocompromised patients, transplant recipients, and developing fetuses
  • cytoplasm the gel-like material composed of water and dissolved or suspended chemicals contained within the plasma membrane of a cell
  • cytoproct a protozoan cell structure that is specialized for excretion
  • cytosine pyrimidine nitrogenous base found in nucleotides
  • 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
  • cytostome a protozoan cell structure that is specialized for phagocytosis (i.e., to take in food)
  • cytotoxic T cells effector cells of cellular immunity that target and eliminate cells infected with intracellular pathogens through induction of apoptosis

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D[edit | edit source]

  • dacryocystitis inflammation of the lacrimal sac often associated with a plugged nasolacrimal duct
  • daptomycin cyclic lipopetide that disrupts the bacterial cell membrane
  • darkfield microscope a compound light microscope that produces a bright image on a dark background; typically a modified brightfield microscope
  • decimal reduction time (DRT) or * D-value amount of time it takes for a specific protocol to produce a one order of magnitude decrease in the number of organisms; that is, death of 90% of the population
  • 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
  • degerming protocol that significantly reduces microbial numbers by using mild chemicals (e.g., soap) and gentle scrubbing of a small area of skin or tissue to avoid the transmission of pathogenic microbes
  • 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
  • dengue fever mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic disease; also known as breakbone fever
  • dental caries cavities formed in the teeth as a result of tooth decay caused by microbial activity
  • deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double-stranded nucleic acid composed of deoxyribonucleotides that serves as the genetic material of the cell
  • dermatophyte any fungus of the genera Microsporum, Epidermophyton, or Trichophyton, which feed on keratin (a protein found in skin, hair, and nails) and can cause cutaneous infections
  • dermis the second layer of human skin, found between the epidermis and the hypodermis
  • descriptive epidemiology a method of studying a disease outbreak using case histories, contact interviews, medical information, and other sources of information
  • desensitization injections of antigen that lead to production of antigen-specific IgG molecules, effectively outcompeting IgE molecules on the surface of sensitized mast cells for antigen
  • desiccation method of microbial control involving the removal of water from cells through drying or dehydration
  • diapedesis process by which leukocytes pass through capillary walls to reach infected tissue; also called extravasation
  • diaphragm a component of a microscope; typically consists of a disk under the stage with holes of various sizes; can be adjusted to allow more or less light from the light source to reach the specimen
  • differential media media that contain additives that make it possible to distinguish bacterial colonies based on metabolic activities of the 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)
  • diphtheria serious infection of the larynx, caused by the toxigenic bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae
  • diploid having two copies of each chromosome
  • direct agglutination assay assay that can be used to detect the agglutination of bacteria by the action of antibodies in patient serum
  • direct contact transmission movement of a pathogen between hosts by physical contact or transfer in droplets at a distance less than one meter
  • direct Coombs’ test assay that looks for antibodies in vivo against red blood cells caused by various types of infections, drug reactions, and autoimmune disorders
  • 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
  • disaccharide one of two monosaccharides linked together by a glycosidic bond
  • 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 fomite
  • disk-diffusion method a technique for measuring of the effectiveness of one or more antimicrobial agents against a known bacterium; involves measuring the zone(s) of inhibition around the chemical agent(s) in a culture of the bacterium
  • dispersion the separation of light of different frequencies due to different degrees of refraction
  • disulfide bridge covalent bond between the sulfur atoms of two sulfhydryl side chains
  • DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II) bacterial topoisomerase that relaxes the supercoiled chromosome to make DNA more accessible for the initiation of replication
  • 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 packaging process in which histones or other DNA binding proteins perform various levels of DNA wrapping and attachment to scaffolding proteins to allow the DNA to fit inside a cell
  • DNA polymerase class of enzymes that adds nucleotides to the free 3’-OH group of a growing DNA chain that are complementary to the template strand
  • DNA primers short, synthetic, single-stranded DNA fragments of known sequence that bind to specific target sequences within a sample due to complementarity between the target DNA sequence and the primer; commonly used in PCR but may be used in other hybridization techniques
  • DNA probe a single-stranded DNA fragment that is complementary to part of the gene (DNA or RNA) of interest
  • DNAse pathogen-produced nuclease that degrades extracellular DNA
  • dosage amount of medication given during a certain time interval
  • doubling time the time it takes for the population to double; also referred to as generation time
  • droplet transmission direct contact transmission of a pathogen transferred in sneezed or coughed droplets of mucus that land on the new host within a radius of one meter
  • drug resistance ability of a microbe to persist and grow in the presence of an antimicrobial drug
  • dura mater tough, outermost membrane that surrounds the brain
  • dynein motor proteins that interact with microtubules in eukaryotic flagella and cilia
  • dysentery intestinal inflammation that causes diarrhea with blood and mucus
  • dysuria urination accompanied by burning, discomfort, or pain

E[edit | edit source]

  • E (exit) site functional site of an intact ribosome that releases dissociated uncharged tRNAs so that they can be recharged with free amino acids
  • eastern equine encephalitis serious, but rare, mosquito-borne viral infection of the brain that is found primarily on the Atlantic and Gulf coast states of the United States
  • Ebola virus disease (EVD) potentially fatal viral hemorrhagic fever found primarily in western Africa and transmitted through contact with body fluids
  • eclipse phase period after viral infection during which the infective virus is not detected, either intracellularly or extracellularly, and biosynthesis is occurring
  • 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; chronic edema can also result from blockage of lymphatic vessels, as in the case of elephantiasis
  • effector cells activated cells of cellular immunity that are involved in the immediate immune response, primarily to defend the body against pathogens
  • electron carrier cellular molecule that accepts high-energy electrons from reduced molecules like foods and later serves as an electron donor in subsequent redox reactions
  • electron microscope a type of microscope that uses short-wavelength electron beams rather than light to increase magnification and resolution
  • electron transport system (ETS) series of membrane-associated protein complexes and associated mobile accessory electron carriers important in the generation of the proton motive force required for ATP production by chemiosmosis; the last component involved in the cellular respiration of glucose
  • electroporation a genetic engineering technique in which cells are exposed to a short electric pulse, inducing them to take up DNA molecules from their environment
  • elementary bodies metabolically and reproductively inactive, endospore-like form of intracellular bacteria that spreads infection outside of cells
  • elongation in DNA replication stage of DNA replication during which DNA polymerase adds nucleotides, complementary to the parental strand, to the 3’ end of a growing DNA strand
  • elongation in transcription stage of transcription during which RNA polymerase extends the RNA molecule by adding RNA nucleotides, complementary to the template DNA strand
  • elongation of translation stage of translation during which amino acids are added one by one to the C-terminus of the growing polypeptide
  • enantiomers stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other and nonsuperimposable
  • endemic disease an illness that is constantly present (often at low levels) in a population
  • endocarditis inflammation of the endocardium, especially the heart valves
  • endocrine function refers to a cytokine signal released from a cell and carried by the bloodstream to a distant recipient cell
  • endocytosis the uptake of molecules through plasma membrane invagination and vacuole/vesicle formation
  • endomembrane system a series of organelles (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatuses, lysosomes, and transport vesicles) arranged as membranous tubules, sacs, and disks that synthesize many cell components
  • endoplasm inner, more fluid layer of cytoplasm under a protist cell membrane (inside of the ectoplasm)
  • endoplasmic reticulum part of the endomembrane system that is an interconnected array of tubules and flattened sacs with a single lipid bilayer that may be either rough or smooth; important in synthesizing proteins and lipids
  • endospore a cellular structure formed by some bacteria in response to adverse conditions; preserves DNA of the cell in a dormant state until conditions are favorable again
  • endospore staining a differential staining technique that uses two stains to make bacterial endospores appear distinct from the rest of the cell
  • endosymbiotic theory the theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts arose as a result of prokaryotic cells establishing a symbiotic relationship within a eukaryotic host
  • endothelia layer of epithelial cells lining blood vessels, lymphatics, the blood-brain barrier, and some other tissues
  • endotoxin lipid A component of lipopolysaccharides in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria
  • enriched media media that contain additional essential nutrients to support growth
  • enrichment culture media providing growth conditions that favor the expansion of an organism present in low numbers
  • enteric bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, which live in the human intestinal tract
  • enteritis inflammation of the lining of the intestine
  • enterobiasis intestinal infection caused by the pinworm Enterobius vermicularis
  • enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) E. coli bacteria that cause severe gastrointestinal illness with potential serious complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome
  • enveloped virus a virus formed with a nucleic-acid packed capsid surrounded by a lipid layer
  • enzyme catalyst for biochemical reactions inside cells
  • enzyme immunoassay (EIA) type of assay wherein an enzyme is coupled to an antibody; addition of a chromogenic substrate for the antibody allows quantification or identification of the antigen bound by the antibody
  • eosinophils leukocytes with granules containing histamine and major basic protein; facilitate allergic responses and protection against parasitic protozoa and helminths
  • epidemic disease an illness with a higher-than-expected incidence in a given period within a given population
  • epidemic typhus severe and sometimes fatal infection caused by Rickettsia prowazekii and transmitted by body lice
  • epidemiology the study of where and when infectious diseases occur in a population and how they are transmitted and maintained in nature
  • epididymis coiled tube that collects sperm from the testes and passes it on to the vas deferens
  • epididymitis inflammation of the epididymis caused by a bacterial infection
  • epiglottis flap of cartilage that covers the larynx during swallowing; diverts food to the esophagus and prevents it from entering the respiratory tract
  • epiphyte a plant that grows on another plant
  • epitope smaller exposed region on an antigen that is recognized by B-cell and T-cell receptors and antibodies
  • equivalence zone region where the antibody–antigen ratio produces the greatest amount of precipitin in a precipitin reaction
  • erysipelas a skin infection, typically caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, that presents as a red, large, intensely inflamed patch of skin involving the dermis, usually with clear borders, typically on the legs or face
  • erythema nodosum a condition that causes inflammation in the subcutaneous fat cells of the hypodermis resulting in red nodules
  • erythema redness at the site of inflammation, usually due to dilation of blood vessels in the area to help bring in white blood cells
  • erythrogenic toxin exotoxin produced by some strains of Streptococcus pyogenes; activity of the toxin can produce the characteristic rash of scarlet fever
  • erythromycin protein synthesis inhibitor of the macrolide class that is often used as an alternative to penicillin
  • eschar a localized mass of dead skin tissue
  • Etest simple, rapid method for determining MIC, involving commercially available plastic strips that contain a gradient of an antimicrobial and are placed on an agar plate inoculated with a bacterial lawn
  • etiologic agent the pathogen or substance responsible for causing a particular disease; causative agent
  • etiology the science of the causes of disease
  • Eukarya the domain of life that includes all unicellular and multicellular organisms with cells that contain membrane-bound nuclei and organelles
  • eukaryote an organism made up of one or more cells that contain a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles
  • eukaryotic cell has a nucleus surrounded by a complex nuclear membrane that contains multiple, rod-shaped chromosomes
  • eustachian tube small passage between the nasopharynx and the middle ear that allows pressure to equalize across the tympanic membrane
  • eutrophs microorganisms that require a copious amount of organic nutrients; also called copiotrophs
  • exergonic reaction chemical reaction that does not require energy beyond activation energy to proceed; releases energy when the reaction occurs
  • exocytosis the release of the contents of transport vesicles to the cell’s exterior by fusion of the transport vesicle’s membrane with the plasma membrane
  • exoenzyme secreted enzyme that enhances the ability of microorganisms to invade host cells
  • exon protein-coding sequence of a eukaryotic gene that is transcribed into RNA and spliced together to code for a polypeptide
  • exonuclease enzymatic activity that removes RNA primers in DNA introduced by primase
  • exotoxin biologically active product that causes adverse changes in the host cells
  • experimental study a type of scientific study that involves manipulation of the study subjects by the researcher through application of specific treatments hypothesized to affect the outcome while maintaining rigorously controlled conditions
  • exposure contact between potential pathogen and host; also called contamination or contact
  • extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) β-lactamases carried by some gram-negative bacteria that provide resistance to all penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and β-lactamase-inhibitor combinations, but not carbapenems
  • extracellular matrix material composed of proteoglycans and fibrous proteins secreted by some eukaryotic cells that lack cell walls; helps multicellular structures withstand physical stresses and coordinates signaling from the external surface of the cell to the interior of the cell
  • extrachromosomal DNA additional molecules of DNA distinct from the chromosomes that are also part of the cell’s genome
  • extravasation process by which leukocytes pass through capillary walls to reach infected tissue; also called diapedesis

F[edit | edit source]

  • F– (recipient) cell E. coli cell lacking the F plasmid and thus incapable of forming a conjugation pilus but capable of receiving the F plasmid during conjugation
  • F pilus (F pili) specialized type of pilus that aids in DNA transfer between cells; conjugation pilus of E. coli
  • F plasmid (fertility factor) bacterial plasmid in E. coli containing genes encoding the ability to conjugate, including genes encoding the formation of the conjugation pilus
  • F’ plasmid integrated F plasmid imprecisely excised from the chromosome; carries with it some chromosomal DNA adjacent to the integration site
  • F+ (donor) cell E. coli cell containing the F plasmid, capable of forming a conjugation pilus
  • Fab region arm of an antibody molecule that includes an antigen-binding site
  • facultative anaerobe organism that grows better in the presence of oxygen but can proliferate in its absence
  • false negative negative result to a test for an infection or condition (e.g., presence of antigen, antibody, or nucleic acid) when the infection or condition is actually present
  • false positive positive result to a test for an infection or condition (e.g., presence of antigen, antibody, or nucleic acid) when the infection or condition is actually absent
  • fatty acid lipid that contains long-chain hydrocarbons terminated with a carboxylic acid functional group
  • fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis technique in which the microbe’s fatty acids are extracted, converted to volatile methyl esters, and analyzed by gas chromatography, yielding chromatograms that may be compared to reference data for identification purposes
  • Fc region region on the trunk of an antibody molecule involved in complement activation and opsonization
  • feedback inhibition mechanism of regulating metabolic pathway whereby the product of a metabolic pathway noncompetitively binds to an enzyme early on in the pathway, temporarily preventing the synthesis of the product
  • 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
  • fifth disease a highly contagious illness, more commonly affecting children, marked by a distinctive “slapped-cheek” rash and caused by parvovirus B19
  • fimbriae filamentous appendages found by the hundreds on some bacterial cells; they aid adherence to host cells
  • fine focusing knob a knob on a microscope that produces relatively small movements to adjust focus
  • fixation the process by which cells are killed and attached to a slide
  • flagella long, rigid, spiral structures used by prokaryotic cells for motility in aqueous environments; composed of a filament made of flagellin, a hook, and motor (basal body) that are attached to the cell envelope
  • flagella staining a staining 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
  • flow cytometry technique analyzing cells for fluorescence intensity; specific subsets of cells are usually labeled in some way prior to the analysis
  • fluconazole antifungal drug of the imidazole class that is administered orally or intravenously for the treatment of several types of systemic yeast infections
  • 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
  • flukes any of the parasitic nonsegmented flatworms (trematodes) that have an oral sucker and sometimes a second ventral sucker; they attach to the inner walls of intestines, lungs, large blood vessels, or the liver in human hosts
  • fluorescent the ability of certain materials to absorb energy and then immediately release that energy in the form of light
  • fluorochromes chromophores that fluoresce (absorb and then emit light)
  • fluorogen nonfluorescent molecule that becomes fluorescent on enzyme or laser activation
  • fluorophore molecule that fluoresces when excited by light
  • fluoroquinolones class of synthetic antimicrobials that inhibit the activity of DNA gyrase, preventing DNA replication
  • focal infection infection in which the pathogen causes infection in one location that then spreads to a secondary location
  • focal length the distance from the lens to the image point when the object is at a definite distance from the lens (this is also the distance to the focal point)
  • focal point a property of the lens; the image point when light entering the lens is parallel (i.e., the object is an infinite distance from the lens)
  • folliculitis a skin infection characterized by localized inflammation of hair follicles, typically producing an itchy red rash
  • fomite inanimate item that may harbor microbes and aid in disease transmission
  • fragmentation newly formed cells split away from the parent filament in actinomycetes and cyanobacteria
  • frameshift mutation mutation resulting from either an insertion or a deletion in a number of nucleotides that, if not a multiple of three, changes every amino acid after the mutation
  • free ribosome eukaryotic 80S ribosome found in the cytoplasm; synthesizes water-soluble proteins
  • frequency the rate of vibration for a light wave or other electromagnetic wave
  • functional groups specific groups of atoms that may occur within a molecule, conferring specific chemical properties
  • fungi (singular: fungus) any of various unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic organisms, typically having cell walls made out of chitin and lacking photosynthetic pigments, vascular tissues, and organs
  • fungicide chemical or physical treatment that kills fungi
  • fungistatic having the ability to inhibit fungal growth, generally by means of chemical or physical treatment
  • furuncle a small, purulent skin lesion; sometimes called a boil
  • fusion inhibitor antiviral drug that blocks the fusion of HIV receptors to the coreceptors required for virus entry into the cell, specifically, chemokine receptor type 5

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G[edit | edit source]

  • Gammaproteobacteria class of Proteobacteria that is very diverse and includes a number of human pathogens
  • gas gangrene rapidly spreading infection of necrotic tissues caused by the gram-positive anaerobe Clostridium perfringensand other Clostridium spp.
  • gastritis inflammation of the lining of the stomach
  • 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
  • gene silencing a genetic engineering technique in which researchers prevent the expression of a particular gene by using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) or microRNAs (miRNAs) to interfere with translation
  • gene therapy a form of treatment for diseases that result from genetic mutations; involves the introduction of nonmutated, functional genes into the genome of the patient, often by way of a viral vector
  • genes segments of DNA molecules that code for proteins or stable RNA molecules
  • genetic code correspondence between mRNA nucleotide codons and the translated amino acids
  • genetic engineering the direct alteration of an organism’s genetics to achieve desirable traits
  • genital warts soft, pink, irregular growths that develop in the external genitalia or anus as a result of human papillomavirus infection
  • genome entire genetic content of a cell
  • genomic library a repository of an organism’s entire genome maintained as cloned fragments in the genomes of strains of a host organism
  • genomics the study and comparison of entire genomes, including the complete set of genes, their nucleotide sequence and organization, and their interactions within a species and with other species
  • genotype full collection of genes that a cell contains within its genome
  • germination process of an endospore returning to the vegetative state
  • Ghon complex calcified lesion containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis; forms in the lungs of patients with tuberculosis
  • giardiasis intestinal infection caused by Giardia lamblia
  • gingivitis inflammation of the gums that can cause bleeding
  • glial cell assists in the organization of neurons, provides a scaffold for some aspects of neuron function, and aids in recovery from neural injury
  • glomerulus capillary bed in the nephron of the kidney that filters blood to form urine
  • glycocalyx cell envelope structure (either capsules or slime layer) outside the cell wall in some bacteria; allows bacteria to adhere to surfaces, aids in biofilm formation, and provides protection from predation
  • glycogen highly branched storage polysaccharide in animal cells and bacteria
  • glycolipid complex lipid that contains a carbohydrate moiety
  • glycolysis first step in the breakdown of glucose, the most common example of which is the Embden-Meyerhoff-Parnas pathway, producing two pyruvates, two NADH molecules, and two (net yield) ATP per starting glucose molecule
  • glycopeptides class of antibacterials that inhibit cell wall synthesis by binding to peptidoglycan subunits and blocking their insertion into the cell wall backbone, as well as blocking transpeptidation
  • glycoprotein conjugated protein with a carbohydrate attached
  • Golgi apparatus an organelle of the endomembrane system that is composed of a series of flattened membranous disks, called dictyosomes, each having a single lipid bilayer, that are stacked together; important in the processing of lipids and proteins
  • gonorrhea a common STI of the reproductive system caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • graft-versus-host disease specific type of transplantation reaction in which a transplanted immune system (e.g., a bone marrow transplant) contains APCs and T cells that are activated and attack the recipient’s tissue
  • Gram stain procedure a differential staining technique that distinguishes bacteria based upon their cell wall structure
  • granulocytes leukocytes found in the peripheral blood that are characterized by numerous granules in the cytoplasm; granulocytes include neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils
  • granuloma walled-off area of chronically inflamed tissue containing microbial pathogens, macrophages, and cellular materials unable to be eliminated
  • granzymes proteases released from a natural killer cell that enter the cytoplasm of a target cell, inducing apoptosis
  • Graves disease hyperthyroidism caused by an autoimmune disease affecting thyroid function
  • green sulfur bacteria phototrophic, anaerobic bacteria that use sulfide for oxidation and produce large amounts of green bacteriochlorophyll
  • growth curve a graph modeling the number of cells in a culture over time
  • guanine purine nitrogenous base found in nucleotides
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome an autoimmune disease, often triggered by bacterial and viral infections, characterized by the destruction of myelin sheaths around neurons, resulting in flaccid paralysis
  • gummas granulomatous lesions that develop in tertiary syphilis

H[edit | edit source]

  • hair follicle a structure embedded in the dermis from which hair grows
  • halophile organism that depends on high concentrations of salt in the environment to grow
  • halotolerant organism that grows in the presence of high salt concentration but does not require it
  • Hansen’s Disease chronic bacterial infection of peripheral nervous tissues caused by the acid-fast bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae; also known as leprosy
  • haploid having one copy of each chromosome
  • hapten a molecule that is too small to be antigenic alone but becomes antigenic when conjugated to a larger protein molecule
  • hard chancre a generally painless ulcer that develops at the site of infection in primary syphilis
  • healthcare-associated infection (HAI) an infection acquired in a hospital or other health-care facility unrelated to the reason for which the patient was initially admitted; nosocomial infection
  • heavy chains longest identical peptide chains in antibody molecules (two per antibody monomer), composed of variable and constant region segments
  • 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
  • hemagglutination visible clumping of red blood cells that can be caused by some viruses, bacteria, and certain diseases in which antibodies are produced that bind to self-red blood cells
  • hematopoiesis formation, development, and differentiation of blood cells from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells
  • hematuria condition in which there is blood in the urine
  • hemolysin class of exotoxin that targets and lyses red blood cells, as well as other cells
  • HEPA filter high-efficiency particulate air filter with an effective pore size that captures bacterial cells, endospores, and viruses as air passes through, removing them from the air
  • herd immunity a reduction in disease prevalence brought about when few individuals in a population are susceptible to an infectious agent
  • heterolactic fermentation process producing a mixture of lactic acid, ethanol and/or acetic acid, and CO2 as fermentation products; the microbes that do this use pentose phosphate pathway glycolysis, which is why they generate multiple fermentation products
  • heterotroph organism that uses fixed organic carbon compounds as its carbon source
  • Hfr cell E. coli cell in which an F plasmid has integrated into the host cell’s chromosome
  • histamine proinflammatory molecule released by basophils and mast cells in response to stimulation by other cytokines and chemical mediators
  • histones DNA-binding proteins found in eukaryotes and archaea that aid in orderly packaging of chromosomal DNA
  • histoplasmosis fungal disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum
  • holoenzyme enzyme with a bound cofactor or coenzyme
  • holozoic refers to protozoans that consume food particles through phagoctytosis
  • homolactic fermentation process producing only lactic acid as a fermentation product; the microbes that do this use Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas glycolysis
  • hookworm infection soil-transmitted intestinal infection caused by the nematodes Necator americanus and Ancylostoma doudenale
  • horizontal direct transmission movement of a pathogen from one host to another (excluding mother to embryo, fetus, or infant) in a population through physical contact or through droplet transmission
  • horizontal gene transfer introduction of genetic material from one organism to another organism within the same generation
  • host range the types of host cells that a particular virus is able to infect
  • HTST high-temperature short-time pasteurization is a method of pasteurization commonly used for milk in which the milk is exposed to a temperature of 72 °C for 15 seconds
  • human papillomavirus (HPV) a group of common sexually transmitted viruses that may be associated with genital warts or with cervical cancer
  • hyaluronidase enzyme produced by pathogens that degrades hyaluronic acid between adjacent cells in connective tissue
  • hybridization the joining of two complementary single-stranded DNA molecules
  • hybridoma clones of cell produced by fusing a normal B cell with a myeloma cell that is capable of producing monoclonal antibodies indefinitely
  • hydatid disease cystic echinococcosis, an infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus
  • hydrophilic “water loving”; refers to a polar molecule or portion of a molecule capable of strong attraction to water molecules
  • hydrophobic “water fearing”; refers to a nonpolar molecule or portion of a molecule not capable of strong attraction to water molecules
  • hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) type III and IV hypersensitivities in the lungs that are caused by environmental or occupational exposure to allergens such as mold and dust
  • hyperthermophile a microorganism that has an optimum growth temperature close to the temperature of boiling water
  • hypertonic medium an environment in which the solute concentration outside a cell exceeds that inside the cell, causing water molecules to move out of the cell, resulting in crenation (shriveling) or plasmolysis.
  • hyphae tubular, filamentous structures that makes up most fungi
  • hypodermis the layer of tissue under the dermis, consisting primarily of fibrous and adipose connective tissue
  • hypotonic medium an environment in which the solute concentration inside a cell exceeds that outside the cell, causing water molecules to move into the cell, possibly leading to swelling and possibly lysis

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I[edit | edit source]

  • icosahedral three-dimensional, 20-sided structure with 12 vertices
  • IgA antibody dimer primarily found in breast milk, mucus, saliva, and tears
  • IgD membrane-body antibody monomer functioning as receptor on the surface of B cells
  • IgE antibody monomer involved in defense against parasites and allergic reactions
  • IgG antibody monomer most abundant in serum; able to cross placenta; most versatile class of antibody in terms of function
  • IgM antibody that is a monomer when functioning as a receptor on surface of B cells but a pentamer when secreted in response to specific pathogens; first antibody to respond during primary and secondary responses
  • image point (focus) a property of the lens and the distance of the object to the lens; the point at which an image is in focus (the image point is often called the focus)
  • imidazoles class of antifungal drugs that inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis
  • immune complex large group of antigens bound by antibodies; large enough to settle out of fluid suspension
  • immunochromatographic assay assay in which fluids are pulled through test strips by capillary action and antigen captured by mobile antibody-colored bead conjugates; a second, fixed antibody localizes the colored bead, allowing visualization
  • immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining technique in which cells are fixed and holes dissolved in the membrane to allow passage of labeled antibodies to bind specific intracellular targets
  • immunoelectrophoresis (IEP) assay following protein electrophoresis (PAGE) of serum, in which antisera against specific serum proteins are added to troughs cut parallel to the electrophoresis track, causing the formation of precipitin arcs
  • immunofiltration technique in which antibody or antigen can be concentrated by passing fluids through porous membranes, and target molecules are captured as they pass
  • immunofluorescence a technique that uses a fluorescence microscope and antibody-specific fluorochromes to determine the presence of specific pathogens in a specimen
  • immunostain use of EIA technology to deliver stain to particular cells in a tissue (immunohistochemistry) or specific targets within a cell (immunocytochemistry)
  • impetigo a skin infection that may result in vesicles, blisters, or bullae especially around the mouth, commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, S. pyogenes, or a combination of both S. aureus and S. pyogenes
  • in vitro outside the organism in a test tube or artificial environment
  • inactivated vaccine vaccine composed of whole pathogen cells or viruses that have been killed or inactivated through treatment with heat, radiation, or chemicals
  • incidence the number of individuals with new infections of a particular disease in a given period of time
  • inclusion conjunctivitis inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns caused by Chlamydia trachomatis transmitted during childbirth
  • inclusions prokaryotic cell cytoplasmic structures for storing specific nutrients and other resources needed by cells
  • incubation period the first stage of acute disease, during which the pathogen begins multiplying in the host and signs and symptoms are not observable
  • indirect agglutination assay assay that can be used to detect the agglutination of small latex beads; beads may be coated with antigen when looking for the presence of specific antibodies, or with antibody when looking for the presence of antigen
  • indirect Coombs’ test assay, performed in vitro prior to blood transfusions, that looks for antibodies against red blood cell antigens (other than the A and B antigens) that are unbound in a patient’s serum
  • indirect ELISA EIA in which an antigen from a pathogen is first attached to the wells of a microtiter plate; the antigen then captures antibodies from patient serum to determine whether the patient currently has or previosly had the disease
  • indirect fluorescent antibody test assay for antigen-specific antibodies wherein the antigen captures the antibody, which is subsequently detected using a labeled anti-immunoglobulin mAb
  • inducer small molecule that either activates or represses transcription
  • inducible operon bacterial operon, typically containing genes encoding enzymes in a degradative pathway, whose expression is induced by the substrate to be degraded when the substrate is available for the cell to use, but that is otherwise repressed in the absence of the substrate
  • induction prophage DNA is excised from the bacterial genome
  • infection the successful colonization of a microorganism within a host
  • infectious mononucleosis common and mild infection caused by Epstein-Barr virus (HHV-4) or cytomegalovirus (HHV-5); transmitted by direct contact with body fluids such as saliva
  • inflammation innate nonspecific immune response characterized by erythema, edema, heat, pain, and altered function, typically at the site of injury or infection but sometimes becoming systemic.
  • influenza highly contagious and acute viral disease of the respiratory tract caused by the influenza virus
  • initiation of DNA replication stage of replication during which various proteins bind to the origin of replication to begin the replication process
  • initiation of translation stage of translation during which an initiation complex composed of the small ribosomal subunit, the mRNA template, initiation factors, GTP, and a special initiator tRNA forms, and the large ribosomal subunit then binds to the initiation complex
  • inoculum small number of cells added to medium to start a culture
  • insertion type of mutation involving the addition of one or more bases into a DNA sequence
  • integrase inhibitors antiviral drugs that block the activity of the HIV integrase responsible for recombination of a DNA copy of the viral genome into the host cell chromosome
  • intercalating agent molecule that slides between the stacked nitrogenous bases of the DNA double helix, potentially resulting in a frameshift mutation
  • interference distortion of a light wave due to interaction with another wave
  • interferons cytokines released by cells that have been infected with a virus; stimulate antiviral responses in nearby cells as well as the cells secreting the interferons
  • interleukins cytokines largely produced by immune system cells that help coordinate efforts against invading pathogens
  • intermediate filament one of a diverse group of cytoskeletal fibers that act as cables within the cell and anchor the nucleus, comprise the nuclear lamina, or contribute to the formation of desmosomes
  • intermediate host a host in which a parasite goes through some stages of its life cycle before migrating to the definitive host
  • intermittent common source spread a mode of disease transmission in which every infection originates from the same source and that source produces infections for a period before stopping and then starting again
  • intestinal fluke a trematode worm that infects the intestine, often caused by Fasciolopsis buski
  • intrinsic growth rate genetically determined generation time under specific conditions for a bacterial strain
  • intron intervening sequence of a eukaryotic gene that does not code for protein and whose corresponding RNA sequences are removed from the primary transcript during splicing
  • intubation placement of a tube into the trachea, generally to open the airway or to administer drugs or oxygen
  • in-use test a technique for monitoring the correct use of disinfectants in a clinical setting; involves placing used, diluted disinfectant onto an agar plate to see if microbial colonies will grow
  • invasion dissemination of a pathogen through local tissues or throughout the body
  • iodophor compound in which iodine is complexed to an organic molecule, increasing the stability and efficacy of iodine as a disinfectant
  • ionizing radiation high-energy form of radiation that is able to penetrate surfaces and sterilize materials by damaging microbial cell components and DNA
  • ischemia condition marked by the inadequate flow of blood to the tissues
  • isograft tissue grafted from one monozygotic twin to another
  • isohemagglutinins IgM class antibodies produced against A or B red blood cell antigens
  • isomers molecules that have the same atomic makeup but differ in the structural arrangement of the atoms
  • isoniazid antimetabolite that inhibits biosynthesis of mycolic acid; used for the treatment of mycobacterial infections
  • isoprenoid branched lipid derived from five-carbon isoprene molecules
  • isotonic medium a solution in which the solute concentrations inside and outside the cell are approximately equal, thereby creating no net movement of water molecules across the cell membrane
  • ivermectin antihelminthic drug of the avermectin class that binds to invertebrate glutamate-gated chloride channels to block neuronal transmission in helminths

J[edit | edit source]

  • Japanese encephalitis arboviral disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and endemic to Asia
  • jaundice yellowish color of the skin and mucous membranes caused by excessive bilirubin caused by a failure of the liver to effectively process the breakdown of hemoglobin

K[edit | edit source]

  • keratin a fibrous protein found in hair, nails, and skin
  • kidney organ that filters the blood, producing urine
  • Kinyoun technique a method of acid-fast staining that does not use heat to infuse the primary stain, carbolfuchsin, into acid-fast cells
  • Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test simple, rapid method for determining susceptibility and resistance of a bacterial pathogen to antibacterial drugs. The test involves drug-impregnated disks placed on an agar plate inoculated with a bacterial lawn.
  • Koplik’s spots white spots that form on the inner lining of the cheek of patients with measles
  • Krebs cycle cyclic pathway during which each two-carbon unit entering the cycle is further oxidized, producing three NADH, one FADH2, and one ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation, releasing two CO2 molecules and regenerating the molecule used in the first step; also called the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle
  • kuru rare form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy endemic to Papua New Guinea

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L[edit | edit source]

  • lacrimal sac a to a reservoir for tears; also known as the dacrocyst or tear sac
  • lag period the time between antigen exposure and production of antibodies
  • lag phase interval before exponential growth of a microbial population during which cells adjust to a new environment
  • laryngopharynx lower portion of the pharynx that connects to the larynx
  • larynx region of the respiratory tract containing the vocal cords; also referred to as the voice box
  • latent disease disease that goes into a dormant nonreplicative state after the acute disease and can persist in this state for years, with the risk of reactivation back into acute disease
  • leading strand strand of DNA made continuously in the 5’ to 3’ direction by DNA polymerase
  • Legionnaires disease atypical pneumonia occurring in older individuals; caused by the inhalation of Legionella pneumophilaaerosolized in water
  • leishmaniasis protozoan infection caused by Leishmania spp. and transmitted by sand flies
  • leptospirosis bacterial infection of the kidney caused by Leptospira spp.; may spread to the liver, lungs, brain, and other organs
  • leukocidin class of exotoxin that targets and lyses leukocytes
  • leukocytes white blood cells of various types, including granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes
  • leukotrienes lipid-based chemical mediators produced by leukocytes and other tissue cells; promote inflammation and allergic responses
  • lichen symbiotic association of a fungus with an algae or cyanobacterium
  • ligation repair of the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA, making the DNA molecule continuous
  • light chains the shorter identical peptide chains of an antibody molecule (two per antibody monomer), composed of variable and constant region segments
  • light-dependent reaction process by which energy from sunlight is absorbed by pigment molecules in photosynthetic membranes and converted into stored chemical energy in the forms of ATP and NADPH
  • light-harvesting complex group of multiple proteins and associated pigments that each may absorb light energy to become excited, and transfer this energy from one pigment molecule to another until the energy is delivered to a reaction center pigment
  • light-independent reaction process by which chemical energy, in the form of ATP and NADPH produced by the light-dependent reactions, is used to fix inorganic CO2 into organic sugar; usually referred to as the Calvin-Benson cycle
  • lincomycin naturally produced protein synthesis inhibitor of the lincosamide class that binds to the 50S subunit, inhibiting peptide bond formation
  • lincosamides class of protein synthesis inhibitors that are similar to macrolides
  • linked recognition a mechanism whereby a B cell and the helper T cell with which it interacts recognize the same antigen
  • lipase extracellular enzyme that degrades triglycerides
  • lipid bilayer biological membranes composed of two layers of phospholipid molecules with the nonpolar tails associating to form a hydrophobic barrier between the polar heads; also called unit membrane
  • lipid macromolecule composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen; source of nutrients for organisms, a storage form for carbon and energy, a part of the structure of membranes, and may function as hormones, pharmaceuticals, fragrances, and pigments
  • lipopolysaccharide (LPS) lipid molecules with attached sugars that are found as components of gram-negative outer membranes
  • listeriosis bacterial disease caused from the ingestion of the microbe Listeria monocytogenes
  • lithotroph chemotroph that uses inorganic chemicals as its electron source; also known as chemoautotroph
  • live attenuated vaccine vaccine with live pathogen that has been attenuated to become less virulent in order to produce an active but subclinical infection
  • liver fluke a trematode worm that affects the bile duct of the liver, including Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica
  • log phase interval of growth when cells divide exponentially; also known as the exponential growth phase
  • loiasis a disease caused by the parasitic Loa loa worm, which is transmitted by deerflies; adult worms live in the subcutaneous tissue and cause inflammation, swelling, and eye pain as they migrate through the skin and the conjunctiva of the eye
  • lophotrichous having a single tuft of flagella located at one end of a bacterial cell
  • lumen space inside the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum in eukaryotic cells
  • Lyme disease tickborne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi
  • lymph nodes bean-shaped organs situated throughout the body that contain areas called germinal centers, which are rich in B and T lymphocytes; also contain macrophages and dendritic cells for antigen presentation
  • lyophilization rapid freezing, followed by placement under a vacuum, of a material so that water is lost by sublimation, thereby inhibiting microbial growth
  • lysis destruction of the host cell
  • lysogen bacterium carrying the prophage
  • lysogenic cycle life cycle of some phages in which the genome of the infecting phage is integrated into the bacterial chromosome and replicated during bacterial reproduction until it excises and enters a lytic phase of the life cycle
  • lysogeny process of integrating the phage into the host genome
  • lysosome an organelle of the endomembrane system that contains digestive enzymes that break down engulfed material such as foodstuffs, infectious particles, or damaged cellular components
  • lytic cycle infection process that leads to the lysis of host cells

M[edit | edit source]

  • M protein a streptococcal cell wall protein that protects the bacteria from being phagocytized. It is associated with virulence and stimulates a strong immune response
  • macrolides class of protein synthesis inhibitors containing a large, complex ring structure that binds to the 50S subunit, inhibiting peptide bond formation
  • macromolecule polymer assembled from of individual units, monomers, that bind together like building blocks
  • macronucleus larger nucleus in ciliate protists that have two nuclei; polyploid with a reduced genome of metabolic genes and derived from the micronucleus
  • macronutrient element required in abundance in cells; account for approximately 99% of the cell’s dry weight
  • macrophages monocytes that have left the bloodstream and differentiated into tissue-specific phagocytes
  • mad cow disease form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy primarily affecting cattle; can be transmitted to humans by consumption of contaminated cattle products
  • magnetosomes inclusions in certain bacterial cells containing magnetic iron oxide or iron sulfide, which allows bacteria to align along a magnetic field by magnetotaxis
  • magnetotaxis directional movement of bacterial cells using flagella in response to a magnetic field
  • magnification the power of a microscope (or lens) to produce an image that appears larger than the actual specimen, expressed as a factor of the actual size
  • malaise a general feeling of being unwell
  • malaria potentially fatal, mosquito-borne protozoan infection caused by several species of Plasmodium and characterized by a relapsing fever, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue
  • mast cells granulocytes similar in origin and function to basophils, but residing in tissues
  • maturation assembly of viral components to produce a functional virus
  • mature naïve T cell a T cell that has exited the thymus after thymic selection but has not yet been activated
  • measles highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the measles virus (MeV); marked by an intense macular rash and high fever; also known as rubeola
  • mebendazole antihelminthic drug of the benzimidazole class that binds to helminthic β-tubulin, preventing microtubule formation
  • mechanical vector an animal that transfers a pathogen from one host to another or from a reservoir to a host without being infected by the pathogen itself
  • medulla loosely packed layer of fungal filaments located underneath the cortex of a lichen
  • membrane attack complex (MAC) ring structure formed from complement proteins C6 through C9 that penetrates the membranes of a targeted cell, causing cell lysis and death
  • membrane filtration method to remove bacteria from liquid, typically heat-sensitive solutions, using filters with an effective pore size of 0.2 µm or smaller, depending on need
  • membrane filtration technique known volumes are vacuum filtered aseptically through a membrane with a pore size small enough to trap microorganisms, which are counted after growth on plates
  • membrane-disrupting toxin toxin that affects cell membrane function by either forming pores or disrupting the phospholipid bilayer
  • memory B cell an activated and differentiated B cell that is programmed to respond to secondary exposures to a specific antigen
  • memory helper T cell a long-lived T cell programmed to recognize and quickly mount a secondary response to a specific pathogen upon re-exposure
  • memory the ability of the specific adaptive immune system to quickly respond to pathogens to which it has previously been exposed
  • meninges membranes that surround the brain
  • meningitis inflammation of the meningeal membranes that surround the brain
  • meningococcal meningitis bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that results in an inflammation of the meninges
  • meningoencephalitis inflammatory response that involves both the brain and the membranes that surround it
  • MERS Middle East respiratory syndrome; first described in Saudi Arabia in 2013; caused by a zoonotic coronavirus that results in flu-like symptoms
  • mesophile a microorganism that grows best at moderate temperatures, typically between about 20 °C and 45 °C
  • metabolism all of the chemical reactions inside of cells
  • metachromatic granule a type of inclusion containing volutin, a polymerized inorganic phosphate that appears red when stained with methylene blue
  • metagenomics the sequencing of genomic fragments from microbial communities, allowing researchers to study genes from a collection of multiple species
  • metatranscriptomics the science of studying a collection of mRNA molecules produced from microbial communities; involves studying gene expression patterns from a collection of multiple species
  • methanogen microorganism that produces gaseous methane
  • metronidazole antibacterial and antiprotozoan drug of the nitroimidazole class that is activated in anaerobic target cell and introduces DNA strand breakage, thus interfering with DNA replication in target cells
  • MHC I molecule glycoprotein expressed on the surface of all nucleated cells and involved in the presentation of normal “self” antigens and foreign antigens from intracellular pathogens
  • MHC II molecule glycoprotein expressed only on the surface of antigen-presenting cells and involved in the presentation of foreign antigens from pathogens ingested by phagocytosis
  • micelle simple spherical arrangement of amphipathic lipid molecules with nonpolar tails aggregated within the interior and polar heads forming the outer surface
  • microaerophile organism that requires oxygen at levels lower than atmospheric concentration
  • microarray analysis a technique used to compare two samples of genomic DNA or cDNA; the DNA or cDNA fragments are immobilized on a chip and labeled with different fluorescent dyes, allowing for comparison of sequences or gene-expression patterns
  • microbe generally, an organism that is too small to be seen without a microscope; also known as a microorganism
  • microbial death curve graphical representation of the progress of a particular microbial control protocol
  • microbial ecology study of the interactions between microbial populations microbiology the study of microorganisms
  • microbiome all prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms that are associated with a certain organism
  • microinjection the direct injection of DNA into the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell using a glass micropipette
  • micronucleus smaller nucleus in ciliate protists that have two nuclei; diploid, somatic, and used for sexual reproduction through conjugation
  • micronutrient indispensable element present in cells in lower amounts than macronutrients; also called trace element
  • microorganism generally, an organism that is too small to be seen without a microscope; also known as a microbe
  • microsporidia fungi that lack mitochondria, centrioles, and peroxisomes; some can be human pathogens
  • microtubule hollow tube composed of tubulin dimers (α and β tubulin); the structural component of the cytoskeleton, centrioles, flagella, and cilia
  • miliary tuberculosis hematogenous dissemination and spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from tubercles
  • missense mutation point mutation that results in a different amino acid being incorporated into the resulting polypeptide
  • mitochondrial matrix the innermost space of the mitochondrion enclosed by two membranes; the location of many metabolic enzymes as well as the mitochondrial DNA and 70S ribosomes
  • mode of action way in which a drug affects a microbe at the cellular level
  • moist-heat sterilization protocol that involves steam under pressure in an autoclave, allowing the steam to reach temperatures higher than the boiling point of water
  • mold a multicellular fungus, typically made up of long filaments
  • molecular cloning the purposeful fragmentation of DNA followed by attachment to another piece of DNA to produce a recombinant molecule, followed by introduction of this recombinant molecule into an easily manipulated host to allow for the creation of multiple copies of a gene of interest
  • monocytes large, agranular, mononuclear leukocytes found in the peripheral blood; responsible for phagocytosis of pathogens and damaged cells
  • monoecious refers to sexually reproducing organisms in which individuals have both male and female reproductive organs
  • monomer small organic molecule that binds with like molecules, forming a polymer or macromolecule
  • monosaccharide monomer for the synthesis of carbohydrate polymers; the simplest carbohydrate, called a simple sugar
  • monotrichous having one flagellum, typically located on one end of the bacterial cell
  • morbidity rate the number of cases of a disease expressed as a percentage of the population or number per standard part of the population, such as 100,000
  • mordant a chemical added to a specimen that sets a stain
  • mortality rate the number of deaths from a disease expressed as a percentage of the population or number per standard part of the population, such as 100,000
  • most probable number (MPN) statistical value representing the viable bacterial population in a sample obtained after a series of dilutions and multiple tube inoculations
  • mRNA short-lived type of RNA that serves as the intermediary between DNA and the synthesis of protein products
  • mucociliary escalator system by which mucus and debris are propelled up and out of the respiratory tract by the beating of respiratory cilia and the mechanical actions of coughing or swallowing
  • mucormycosis rare form of pneumonia that can be caused by an invasive infection of different fungi in the order Mucorales, such as Rhizopus or Mucor
  • mucous membrane moist layer of epithelial cells and interspersed goblet cells that lines the inner surfaces of the body, usually bathed in antimicrobial secretions from the cells of the membrane
  • mucus viscous secretion produced by cells and glands in various mucous membranes throughout the body; helps trap and remove microbes and debris from the body
  • multidrug-resistant microbes (MDR) group of pathogens that carry one or more resistance mechanisms, making them resistant to multiple antimicrobials; also called superbugs
  • multiple sclerosis autoimmune attack on the myelin sheaths and nerve cells in the central nervous system
  • mumps a viral illness that causes swelling of the parotid glands; rare in the United States because of effective vaccination
  • murine typhus fleaborne infection caused by Rickettsia typhi and characterized by fever, rash, and pneumonia
  • mutagen type of chemical agent or radiation that can induce mutations
  • mutant organism harboring a mutation that often has a recognizable change in phenotype compared to the wild type
  • mutation heritable change in the DNA sequence of an organism
  • mutualism type of symbiosis in which two populations benefit from, and depend on, each other
  • myasthenia gravis autoimmune disease affecting the acetylcholine receptors in the neuromuscular junction, resulting in weakened muscle contraction capability
  • mycelium vegetative network of branched, tubular hyphae
  • mycolic acids waxy molecules associated with peptidoglycan in some gram-positive, acid-fast bacteria, chiefly mycobacteria
  • Mycoplasma pneumonia also known as walking pneumonia; a milder form of atypical pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • mycotoxin biologically active product of pathogenic fungi that causes adverse changes in the host cells
  • myelin sheath insulating layer that surrounds the axon of some neurons and helps to promote signal propagation

N[edit | edit source]

  • naked virus virus composed of a nucleic acid core, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a capsid
  • nalidixic acid member of the quinolone family that functions by inhibiting the activity of DNA gyrase, blocking DNA replication
  • nasal cavity air-filled space in the skull immediately behind the nose
  • nasopharynx part of the upper throat (pharynx) extending from the posterior nasal cavity; carries air inhaled through the nose
  • native structure three-dimensional structure of folded fully functional proteins
  • natural antibiotic antimicrobial compound that is produced naturally by microorganisms in nature
  • natural passive immunity transfer of maternal antibodies from mother to fetus (transplacentally) or infant (via breastmilk)
  • necrotizing fasciitis a serious infection, also known as flesh-eating disease, that leads to rapid destruction of tissue through the action of exotoxin A; it can be caused by S. pyogenes or several other bacterial species
  • negative stain a stain that produces color around the structure of interest while not coloring the structure itself
  • neonatal herpes herpes infection of the newborn, generally caused by infection during birth
  • neonatal meningitis meningitis caused by Group B streptococcus and occurring primarily in neonates (less than 2 months old)
  • neurocysticercosis parasitic invasion of brain tissues by the larvae of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium
  • neuron specialized cell found throughout the nervous system that transmits signals through the nervous system using electrochemical processes
  • neuropathy numbness or tingling sensation caused by damage to peripheral nerves
  • neurotoxoplasmosis disease caused by the invasion of brain tissues by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii; typically only affects immunocompromised patients
  • neurotransmitter compound that is released at the synapse of neurons to stimulate or suppress the actions of other cells
  • neutralism type of symbiosis that does not affect either of the two populations
  • neutralization binding of an antibody to a pathogen or toxin, preventing attachment to target cells
  • neutrophile organism that grows best at a near a neutral pH of 6.5–7.5
  • neutrophils leukocytes with a multilobed nucleus found in large numbers in peripheral blood; able to leave the bloodstream to phagocytose pathogens in infected tissues; also called polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs)
  • nitrogen fixation bacterial biochemical pathways that incorporate inorganic nitrogen gas into organic forms more easily used by other organisms
  • nitrogenous base nitrogen-containing ring structure within a nucleotide that is responsible for complementary base pairing between nucleic acid strands
  • noncoding DNA regions of an organism’s genome that, unlike genes, do not encode proteins
  • noncritical item object that may contact intact skin but does not penetrate it; requires cleanliness but not a high level of disinfection
  • noninfectious disease disease caused by something other than an infectious agent (e.g., genetics, environment, nutritional deficiencies)
  • nonionizing radiation low-energy radiation, like ultraviolet light, that can induce dimer formation between two adjacent pyrimidine bases, resulting in DNA polymerase stalling and possible formation of a frameshift mutation
  • nonsense mutation point mutation that converts a codon encoding an amino acid (a sense codon) into a stop codon (a nonsense codon)
  • northern blot a technique in molecular genetics used to detect the amount of RNA made by gene expression within a tissue or organism sample; RNA fragments within a sample are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, immobilized on a membrane, and then exposed to a specific DNA probe labeled with a radioactive or fluorescent molecular beacon to aid in detection
  • notifiable disease a disease for which all cases must legally be reported to regional, state, and/or federal public health agencies
  • nuclear envelope (also called the nuclear membrane) a structure defining the boundary of the nucleus; composed of two distinct lipid bilayers that are contiguous with each other and with the endoplasmic reticulum
  • nuclear lamina a meshwork of intermediate filaments (mainly lamins) found just inside the nuclear envelope; provides structural support to the nucleus
  • nucleic acid class of macromolecules composed of nucleotide monomers polymerized into strands
  • nucleoid concentrated area of DNA genome and associated proteins found in a prokaryotic cell that is not surrounded by a membrane
  • nucleolus a dense region within the nucleus where ribosomal RNA biosynthesis occurs and preribosomal complexes are made
  • nucleoside analog chemical that is structurally similar to a normal nucleotide base that can be incorporated into DNA instead of normal bases during replication but that has different base pairing rules than the normal base for which it was substituted, inducing mutation
  • nucleotide excision repair (dark repair) enzymatic mechanism to repair pyrimidine dimers by cutting the dimer-containing DNA strand on both sides of dimer, removing the intervening strand and replacing the bases with the correct ones
  • nucleotide nucleic acid monomer composed of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
  • nucleus a membrane-bound structure of eukaryotic cells that houses the DNA genome

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O[edit | edit source]

  • objective lenses on a light microscope, the lenses closest to the specimen, typically located at the ends of turrets
  • obligate intracellular pathogen microorganism that cannot synthesize its own ATP and, therefore, must rely on a host cell for energy; behaves like a parasite when inside a host cell, but is metabolically inactive outside of a host cell
  • observational study a type of scientific study that involves measurement of study subjects on variables hypothesized to be associated with the outcome of interest, but without any manipulation of the subjects
  • ocular lens on a microscope, the lens closest to the eye (also called an eyepiece)
  • oil immersion lens a special objective lens on a microscope designed to be used with immersion oil to improve resolution
  • oligopeptide peptide having up to approximately 20 amino acids
  • oligotroph organism capable of living in low-nutrient environments
  • opacity the property of absorbing or blocking light
  • operator DNA sequence located between the promoter region and the first coding gene to which a repressor protein can bind
  • operon a group of genes with related functions often found clustered together within the prokaryotic chromosome and transcribed under the control of a single promoter and operator repression sequence
  • ophthalmia neonatorum inflammation of the conjunctiva in newborns caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmitted during childbirth
  • opisthotonos characteristic symptom of tetanus that results in uncontrolled muscular spasms and backward arching of the neck and spine
  • opsonin any molecule that binds to and coats the outside of a pathogen, identifying it for destruction by phagocytes (examples include antibodies and the complement proteins C3b and C4b)
  • opsonization process of coating a pathogen with a chemical substance (an opsonin) that allows phagocytic cells to recognize, engulf, and destroy the pathogen more easily
  • oral herpes an infection caused by herpes simplex virus that results in cold sores, most commonly on and around the lips
  • orchitis inflammation of one or both of the testes
  • organic molecule composed primarily of carbon; typically contains at least one carbon atom bound to one or more hydrogen atoms
  • organotroph chemotroph that uses organic molecules as its electron source; also known as chemoheterotroph
  • oropharynx area where air entering mouth enters the pharynx
  • osmosis diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane
  • osmotic pressure the force or pressure generated by water diffusing across a semipermeable membrane, driven by differences in solute concentration across the membrane
  • otitis externa an infection of the external ear canal, most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa; often called swimmer’s ear
  • otitis inflammation of the ear
  • Ouchterlony assay test in which antigen and antisera are added to neighboring wells in an agar gel, allowing visualization of precipitin arcs
  • outer membrane a phospholipid bilayer external to the peptidoglycan layer found in gram-negative cell walls
  • oxazolidinones class of synthetic protein synthesis inhibitors that interfere with formation of the initiation complex for translation and prevent translocation of the growing protein from the ribosomal A site to the P site
  • oxidation reaction chemical reaction that removes electrons (often as part of H atoms) from donor molecules, leaving them oxidized
  • oxidative phosphorylation mechanism for making ATP that uses the potential energy stored within an electrochemical gradient to add Pi to ADP
  • oxygenic photosynthesis type of photosynthesis found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, and in which H2O is used as the electron donor to replace an electron lost by a reaction center pigment, resulting in oxygen as a byproduct

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P[edit | edit source]

  • P (peptidyl) site functional site of an intact ribosome that binds charged tRNAs carrying amino acids that have formed peptide bonds with the growing polypeptide chain but have not yet dissociated from their corresponding tRNA
  • papilloma growth on the skin associated with infection by any of the human papilloma viruses (HPV); commonly known as a wart
  • paracrine function refers to a cytokine signal released from a cell to a receptor on a nearby cell
  • parasitism type of symbiosis in which one population benefits while harming the other parasitology the study of parasites
  • parenteral route means of entry by a pathogen through skin or mucous membranes when these barriers are breached
  • paroxysmal stage most serious stage of pertussis (whooping cough), characterized by severe and prolonged coughing spells
  • passive carrier an individual capable of transmitting a pathogen to another individual without becoming infected
  • passive immunity adaptive immune defenses received from another individual or animal
  • pasteurization form of microbial control using heat that is applied to foods; kills pathogens and reduces the number of spoilage-causing microbes while maintaining food quality
  • pathogen a disease-causing microorganism
  • pellicle structure that underlies the plasma membrane in protists, providing additional support
  • penetration entry of phage or virus into a host cell through injection, endocytosis, or membrane fusion
  • penicillin β-lactam antibacterial that was the first cell wall synthesis inhibitor developed
  • penis external genital organ in males through which urine and semen are discharged
  • pentamidine antiprotozoan drug that appears to degrade kDNA in target cells, as well as inhibit protein synthesis
  • pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) alternative glycolytic pathway that produces intermediates used for the biosynthesis of nucleotides and amino acids; also called the phosphogluconate pathway or the hexose monophosphate shunt
  • peptic ulcer an ulcer in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, often associated with Helicobacter pylori
  • peptide bond bond between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amine group of another; formed with the loss of a water molecule
  • peptidoglycan (murein) the polymer of alternating N-acetylmuramic acid NAM and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) subunits linked together by peptide chains; a major constituent of bacterial cell walls
  • peptidyl transferase RNA-based ribozyme that is part of the 50S ribosomal subunit and catalyzes formation of the peptide bond between the amino acid bound to a tRNA and the growing polypeptide chain
  • perforin compound released from a natural killer cell that creates pores in the target cell through which other toxins (particularly granzymes) can gain access to the cytoplasm
  • pericarditis inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart
  • period of decline fourth stage of disease, during which the number of pathogens present in the host decreases, along with signs and symptoms of disease
  • period of illness third stage of acute disease, during which the number of pathogens present in the host is greatest and the signs and symptoms of disease are most severe
  • periodontitis inflammation of the gums that is more severe than gingivitis, spreading deeper into the tissues
  • peripheral nervous system network of neurons that connects the CNS with organs, sensory organs, and muscles throughout the body
  • peripheral tolerance mechanism by which regulatory T cells inhibit self-reactive immune responses in T cells that have already exited the thymus
  • periplasmic space the space between the cell wall and the plasma membrane, primarily in gram-negative bacteria
  • peristalsis muscular contractions of the gastrointestinal tract that propel ingested material through the stomach, intestines, and, eventually, through the rectum and out of the body
  • peritrichous having numerous flagella covering the entire surface of a bacterial cell
  • peroxidase enzyme that catalyzes the detoxification of peroxides
  • peroxisome in eukaryotic cells, a membrane-bound organelle (not part of the endomembrane system) that produces hydrogen peroxide to break down various types of molecules; also plays a role in lipid biosynthesis
  • peroxygen type of strong oxidizing agent that causes free radical formation in cells; can be used as a disinfectant or antiseptic
  • persister dormant cell that survives in the death phase and is resistant to most antibiotics
  • pertussis contagious illness caused by Bordetella pertussis that causes severe coughing fits followed by a whooping sound during inhalation; commonly known as whooping cough
  • pertussis toxin main virulence factor accounting for the symptoms of whooping cough
  • petechiae small red or purple spots on the skin that result from blood leaking out of damaged vessels
  • phagemid a plasmid capable of being replicated as a plasmid and also incorporated into a phage head
  • phagocytosis a type of endocytosis in which large particles are engulfed by membrane invagination, after which the particles are enclosed in a pocket, which is pinched off from the membrane to form a vacuole
  • phagolysosome compartment in a phagocytic cell that results when the phagosome is fused with the lysosome, leading to the destruction of the pathogens inside
  • phagosome compartment in the cytoplasm of a phagocytic cell that contains the phagocytosed pathogen enclosed by part of the cell membrane
  • pharmacogenomics (toxicogenomics) the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of drugs on the basis of information from an individual’s genomic sequence as well as examination of changes in gene expression in response to the drug
  • pharynx region connecting the nose and mouth to the larynx: the throat
  • phenol coefficient measure of the effectiveness of a chemical agent through comparison with that of phenol on Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
  • phenolics class of chemical disinfectants and antiseptics characterized by a phenol group that denatures proteins and disrupts membranes
  • phenotype observable characteristics of a cell or organism
  • phosphodiester bonds linkage whereby the phosphate group attached to the 5ʹ carbon of the sugar of one nucleotide bonds to the hydroxyl group of the 3ʹ carbon of the sugar of the next nucleotide
  • phosphorescence the ability of certain materials to absorb energy and then release that energy as light after a delay
  • photosynthesis process whereby phototrophic organisms convert solar energy into chemical energy that can then be used to build carbohydrates
  • photosynthetic pigment pigment molecule used by a cell to absorb solar energy; each one appears the color of light that it transmits or reflects
  • photosystem organized unit of pigments found within a photosynthetic membrane, containing both a light-harvesting complex and a reaction center
  • phototaxis directional movement using flagella in response to light
  • phototroph organism that gets its energy from light
  • phylogeny the evolutionary history of a group of organisms
  • pia mater fragile and innermost membrane layer surrounding the brain
  • pili long protein extensions on the surface of some bacterial cells; specialized F or sex pilus aids in DNA transfer between cells
  • pinocytosis a type of endocytosis in which small dissolved materials are endocytosed into smaller vesicles
  • plague infectious epidemic disease caused by Yersinia pestis
  • plankton microscopic organisms that float in the water and are carried by currents; they may be autotrophic (phytoplankton) or heterotrophic (zooplankton)
  • planktonic free-floating or drifting in suspension
  • plantibodies monoclonal antibodies produced in plants that are genetically engineered to express mouse or human antibodies
  • plaque clear area on bacterial lawn caused by viral lysis of host cells
  • plasma cell activated and differentiated B cell that produces and secretes antibodies
  • plasma fluid portion of the blood that contains all clotting factors
  • plasma membrane (also called the cell membrane or cytoplasmic membrane) lipid bilayer with embedded proteins that defines the boundary of the cell
  • plasmid small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is typically independent from the bacterial chromosome
  • plasmolysis the separation of the plasma membrane away from the cell wall when a cell is exposed to a hypertonic environment
  • platelets cell fragments in the peripheral blood that originate from megakaryocyte cells in the bone marrow; also called thrombocytes
  • pleconaril an antiviral drug targeting picornaviruses that prevents the uncoating of virus particles upon their infection of host cells
  • pneumococcal meningitis bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae that results in an inflammation of the meninges
  • pneumonia pulmonary inflammation that causes the lungs to fill with fluids
  • pneumonic plague rare form of plague that causes massive hemorrhages in the lungs and is communicable through aerosols
  • point mutation mutation, most commonly a base substitution, that affects a single base pair
  • point source spread a form of common source spread in which the transmission of a disease from the source occurs for a brief period that is less than the pathogen’s incubation period
  • polar tubule a tube-like structure produced by spores of parasitic Microsporidia fungi that pierces host cell membranes
  • poliomyelitis (polio) disease caused by an infection of the enteric polio virus characterized by inflammation of the motor neurons of the brain stem and spinal cord; can result in paralysis
  • poly-A tail string of approximately 200 adenine nucleotides added to the 3’ end of a eukaryotic primary mRNA transcript to stabilize it
  • polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) a method for separating populations of proteins and DNA fragments during Sanger sequencing of varying sizes by differential migration rates caused by a voltage gradient through a vertical gel matrix
  • polycistronic mRNA single mRNA molecule commonly produced during prokaryotic transcription that carries information encoding multiple polypeptides
  • polyclonal antibodies antibodies produced in a normal immune response, in which multiple clones of B cells respond to many different epitopes on an antigen
  • polyenes class of antifungal drugs that bind to ergosterol to form membrane pores, disrupting fungal cell membrane integrity
  • polylinker site or * multiple cloning site (MCS) a short sequence containing multiple unique restriction enzyme recognition sites that are used for inserting foreign DNA into the plasmid after restriction digestion of both the foreign DNA and the plasmid
  • polymer macromolecule composed of individual units, monomers, that bind together like building blocks.
  • polymerase chain reaction (PCR) an in vitro molecular technique that rapidly amplifies the number of copies of specific DNA sequences to make the amplified DNA available for other analyses
  • polymyxins lipophilic polypeptide antibiotics that target the lipopolysaccharide component of gram-negative bacteria and ultimately disrupt the integrity of their outer and inner membranes
  • polypeptide polymer having from approximately 20 to 50 amino acids
  • polyphyletic refers to a grouping of organisms that is not descended from a single common ancestor
  • polyribosome (polysome) structure including an mRNA molecule that is being translated by multiple ribosomes concurrently
  • polysaccharide polymer composed of hundreds of monosaccharides linked together by glycosidic bonds; also called glycans
  • portal of entry anatomical feature of the body through which pathogens can enter host tissue
  • portal of exit anatomical feature of the body through which pathogens can leave diseased individual
  • positive (+) strand viral RNA strand that acts like messenger RNA and can be directly translated inside the host cell
  • pour plate method a technique used for inoculating plates with diluted bacterial samples for the purpose of cell counting; cells are mixed with warm liquid agar before being poured into Petri dishes
  • praziquantel antihelminthic drug that induces a calcium influx into tapeworms, leading to spasm and paralysis
  • precipitin complex lattice of antibody and antigen that becomes too large to stay in solution
  • precipitin ring test assay in which layers of antisera and antigen in a test tube form precipitin at the interface of the two solutions
  • prevalence the total number or proportion of individuals in a population ill with a specific disease
  • primary antibody in a sandwich ELISA, the antibody that is attached to wells of a microtiter plate to capture antigen from a solution, or in an indirect ELISA, the antigen-specific antibody present in a patient’s serum
  • primary pathogen microorganism that can cause disease in the host regardless of the effectiveness of the host’s immune system
  • primary response the adaptive immune response produced upon first exposure to a specific antigen
  • primary stain refers, in differential staining techniques, to the first dye added to the specimen
  • primary structure bonding sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain * protein macromolecule that results when the number of amino acids linked together becomes very large, or when multiple polypeptides are used as building subunits
  • primary transcript RNA molecule directly synthesized by RNA polymerase in eukaryotes before undergoing the additional processing required to become a mature mRNA molecule
  • primase RNA polymerase enzyme that synthesizes the RNA primer required to initiate DNA synthesis
  • primer short complementary sequence of five to 10 RNA nucleotides synthesized on the template strand by primase that provides a free 3’-OH group to which DNA polymerase can add DNA nucleotides
  • prion acellular infectious particle consisting of just proteins that can cause progressive diseases in animals and humans
  • prodromal period second stage of acute disease, during which the pathogen continues to multiply in the host and nonspecific signs and symptoms become observable
  • progeny virus newly assembled virions ready for release outside the cell
  • prokaryote an organism whose cell structure does not include a membrane-bound nucleus
  • promoter DNA sequence onto which the transcription machinery binds to initiate transcription
  • propagated spread the progression of an infectious disease from person to person, either indirectly or directly, through a population of susceptible individuals as one infected individual transmits the agent to others, who transmit it to others yet again
  • prophage phage genome that has incorporated into the host genome
  • prospective study a research design that follows cases from the beginning of the study through time to associate measured variables with outcomes
  • protease enzyme involved in protein catabolism that removes individual amino acids from the ends of peptide chains
  • protease inhibitor class of antiviral drugs, used in HIV therapy and hepatitis C therapy, that inhibits viral-specific proteases, preventing viral maturation
  • protein signature an array of proteins expressed by a cell or tissue under a specific condition
  • proteomics the study of the entire complement of proteins in an organism; involves monitoring differences in gene expression patterns between cells at the protein level
  • protists informal name for diverse group of eukaryotic organisms, including unicellular, colonial, and multicellular types that lack specialized tissues
  • proton motive force electrochemical gradient formed by the accumulation of hydrogen ions (also known as protons) on one side of a membrane relative to the other protozoan (plural: protozoa) a unicellular eukaryotic organism, usually motile
  • protozoans informal term for some protists, generally those that are nonphotosynthetic, unicellular, and motile protozoology the study of protozoa
  • provirus animal virus genome that has integrated into the host chromosome
  • pseudomembrane grayish layer of dead cells, pus, fibrin, red blood cells, and bacteria that forms on mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, tonsils, pharynx, and larynx of individuals with diphtheria
  • pseudomembranous colitis inflammation of the large intestine with the formation of a pseudomembrane; caused by C. difficile
  • pseudopodia temporary projections involved in ameboid movement; these “false feet” form by gel-sol cycling of actin polymerization/depolymerization
  • psittacosis zoonotic Chlamydophila infection from birds that causes a rare form of pneumonia
  • psoriasis autoimmune disease involving inflammatory reactions in and thickening of skin
  • psychrophile a microorganism that grows best at cold temperatures; most have an optimum growth temperature of about 15 °C and can survive temperatures below 0 °C; most cannot survive temperatures above 20 °C
  • psychrotroph a microorganism that grows best at cool temperatures, typically between about 4 °C and 25 °C, with optimum growth at about 20 °C
  • puerperal sepsis sepsis associated with a bacterial infection incurred by a woman during or after childbirth
  • purines nitrogenous bases containing a double-ring structure with a six-carbon ring fused to a five-carbon ring; includes adenine and guanine
  • purple nonsulfur bacteria phototrophic bacteria that are similar to purple sulfur bacteria except they use hydrogen rather than hydrogen sulfide for oxidation
  • purple sulfur bacteria phototrophic bacteria that oxidize hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur and sulfuric acid; their purple color is due to the pigments bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids
  • purulent an infection that produces pus; suppurative
  • pus accumulation of dead pathogens, neutrophils, tissue fluid, and other bystander cells that may have been killed by phagocytes at the site of an infection
  • pyocyanin blue pigments produced by some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • pyoderma any suppurative (pus-producing) infection of the skin
  • pyoverdin a water-soluble, yellow-green or yellow-brown pigment produced by some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  • pyrimidines nitrogenous bases containing a single six-carbon ring; includes cytosine and thymine in DNA
  • pyuria pus or white blood cells in the urine

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Q[edit | edit source]

  • Q fever highly infectious zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii that farmers can contract from their animals by inhalation
  • quarantine the isolation of an individual for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease
  • quaternary ammonium salts (quats) group of cationic detergents, named for the characteristic quaternary nitrogen atom that confers a positive charge, that make up an important class of disinfectants and antiseptics
  • quaternary structure structure of protein complexes formed by the combination of several separate polypeptides or subunits
  • quinolines class of antiprotozoan drugs long used for the treatment of malaria; interferes with heme detoxification
  • quorum sensing cell-to-cell communication in bacteria; enables a coordinated response from cells when the population reaches a threshold density

R[edit | edit source]

  • R plasmid plasmid containing genes encoding proteins that make a bacterial cell resistant to one or more antibiotics
  • rabies contagious viral disease primarily transmitted by the bite of infected mammals that can cause acute encephalitis resulting in madness, aggressiveness, coma, and death
  • radial immunodiffusion precipitin reaction in which antigen added to a well in an antiserum-impregnated gel diffuses, producing a precipitin ring whose diameter squared is directly proportional to antigen concentration
  • rat-bite fever relapsing fever caused by either Bacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minor; can be transmitted by the bite of a rat or through contact with rat feces or urine
  • reaction center protein complex in a photosystem, containing a pigment molecule that can undergo oxidation upon excitation by a light-harvesting pigment, actually giving up an electron
  • reactivation tuberculosis secondary infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that forms later in life; occurs when the bacteria escape from the Ghon complexes and establish focal infections at other sites in immunocompromised individuals
  • real-time PCR (quantitative PCR, qPCR) a variant of PCR involving the use of fluorescence to allow for the monitoring of the increase in double-stranded template during a PCR reaction as it occurs, allowing for the quantitation of the original target sequence
  • receptor-mediated endocytosis a type of endocytosis in which extracellular ligands are targeted to specific cells through their binding to specific cell surface receptors
  • recognition site a specific, often palindromic, DNA sequence recognized by a restriction enzyme that is typically four to six base pairs long and reads the same in the 5ʹ to 3ʹ direction on one strand as it does in the 5ʹ to 3ʹ direction on the complementary strand
  • recombinant DNA molecule a DNA molecule resulting from the cutting and insertion of DNA from one organism into the DNA of another organism, resulting in a new combination of genetic material
  • recombinant DNA technology the process by which DNA from one organism is cut and new pieces of foreign DNA from a second organism are inserted, artificially creating new combinations of genetic material within the organism
  • redox potential tendency for a molecule to acquire electrons and become reduced; electrons flow from molecules with lower redox potentials to those with higher redox potentials
  • redox reaction pairing of an oxidation reaction with a reduction reaction
  • reduction reaction chemical reaction that adds electrons to acceptor molecules, leaving them reduced
  • reemerging infectious disease a disease that was once under control or largely eradicated that has begun causing new outbreaks due to changes in susceptible populations, the environment, or the pathogen itself
  • refraction bending of light waves, which occurs when a light wave passes from one medium to another
  • refractive index a measure of the magnitude of slowing of light waves by a particular medium
  • regulatory T cells class of T cells that are activated by self-antigens and serve to inhibit peripheral self-reacting T cells from causing damage and autoimmunity
  • rejection process by which adaptive immune responses recognize transplanted tissue as non-self, mounting a response that destroys the tissue or leads to the death of the individual
  • relapsing fever louse- or tickborne disease caused by Borrelia recurrentis or B. hermsii and characterized by a recurrent fever
  • replica plating plating technique in which cells from colonies growing on a complete medium are inoculated onto various types of minimal media using a piece of sterile velvet, ensuring that the orientation of cells deposited on all plates is the same so that growth (or absence thereof) can be compared between plates
  • replication bubble circular structure formed when the DNA strands are separated for replication
  • replication fork Y-shaped structure that forms during the process of replication as DNA unwinds and opens up to separate the DNA strands
  • reporter genes genes that encode easily observable characteristics, allowing for their expression to be easily monitored
  • repressible operon bacterial operon, that typically containing genes encoding enzymes required for a biosynthetic pathway and that is expressed when the product of the pathway continues to be required but is repressed when the product of the pathway accumulates, removing the need for continued expression
  • repressor protein that suppresses transcription of a gene or operon in response to an external stimulus
  • reservoir a living host or nonliving site in which a pathogenic organism can survive or multiply
  • resolution the ability to distinguish between two points in an image
  • restriction endonuclease (restriction enzyme) bacterial enzyme that cuts DNA fragments at a unique, often palindromic, recognition site; used in genetic engineering for splicing DNA fragments together into recombinant molecules
  • restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) a genetic variant identified by differing numbers or sizes of DNA fragments generated after digestion of a DNA sample with a restriction endonuclease; the variants are caused by the loss or gain of restriction sites, or the insertion or deleting of sequences between restriction sites.
  • retort large industrial autoclave used for moist heat sterilization on a large scale
  • retrovirus positive ssRNA virus that produces and uses reverse transcriptase to make an ssDNA copy of the retroviral genome that can then be made into dsDNA and integrate into the host cell chromosome to form a provirus within the host chromosome.
  • reverse transcriptase inhibitor classes of antiviral drugs that involve nucleoside analog competitive inhibition and non-nucleoside noncompetitive inhibition of the HIV reverse transcriptase
  • reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) a variation of PCR used to obtain DNA copies of a specific mRNA molecule that begins with the conversion of mRNA molecules to cDNA by the enzyme reverse transcriptase
  • Reye syndrome potentially life-threatening sequelae to some viral infections that result in the swelling of the liver and brain; aspirin use has also been linked to this syndrome
  • Rh factor red blood cell surface antigen that can trigger type II hypersensitivity reactions
  • rheostat a dimmer switch that controls the intensity of the illuminator on a light microscope
  • rheumatic fever serious clinical sequela of an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes that can result in damage to joints or the valves of the heart
  • rheumatoid arthritis systemic autoimmune disease in which immune complexes form and deposit in the joints and their linings, leading to inflammation and destruction
  • rhinitis inflammation of the nasal cavity
  • rhizines structures made of hyphae found on some lichens; aid in attachment to a surface
  • ribonucleic acid (RNA) single-stranded nucleic acid composed of ribonucleotides; important in transcription and translation (protein synthesis)
  • ribonucleotides RNA nucleotides containing ribose as the pentose sugar component and a nitrogenous base
  • ribosome a complex intracellular structure that synthesizes proteins
  • riboswitch small region of noncoding RNA found within the 5’ end of some prokaryotic mRNA molecules that may bind to a small intracellular molecule, influencing the completion of transcription and/or translation
  • rifampin semisynthetic member of the rifamycin class that blocks bacterial RNA polymerase activity, inhibiting transcription
  • rimantadine antiviral drug that targets the influenza virus by preventing viral escape from endosomes upon host cell uptake, preventing viral RNA release and subsequent viral replication
  • ringworm a tinea (cutaneous mycosis of the skin), typically characterized by a round, red, slightly raised lesion that heals outward from the center, giving it the appearance of a round worm
  • RNA interference (RNAi) process by which antisense RNAs or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) interfere with gene expression by binding to mRNA, preventing translation and protein synthesis
  • RNA polymerase enzyme that adds nucleotides to the 3’-OH group of the growing mRNA molecule that are complementary to the template strand, forming covalent phosphodiester bonds between the nucleotides in the RNA
  • RNA splicing process of removing intron-encoded RNA sequences from eukaryotic primary transcripts and reconnecting those encoded by exons
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever potentially fatal tickborne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii characterized by fever, body aches, and a rash
  • rogue form misfolded form of the PrP protein that is normally found in the cell membrane and has the tendency to aggregate in neurons, causing extensive cell death and brain damage
  • roseola a rash-causing illness, most commonly affecting children, associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6)
  • rough endoplasmic reticulum a type of endoplasmic reticulum containing bound 80S ribosomes for the synthesis of proteins destined for the plasma membrane
  • rRNA type of stable RNA that is a major constituent of ribosomes, ensuring proper alignment of the mRNA and the ribosomes as well as catalyzing the formation of the peptide bonds between two aligned amino acids during protein synthesis
  • rubella German measles, caused by the rubella virus
  • runs (running) purposeful, directional movement of a prokaryotic cell propelled by counterclockwise flagellar rotation

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S[edit | edit source]

  • σ factor subunit of bacterial RNA polymerase conferring promoter specificity that can be substituted with a different version in response to an environmental condition, allowing for a quick and global change of the regulon transcribed
  • salmonellosis gastrointestinal illness caused by Salmonella bacteria
  • sandwich ELISA EIA in which the primary antibody is first attached to the wells of a microtiter plate, allowing it to capture antigen from an unknown solution to be quantified
  • Sanger DNA sequencing (dideoxy method, chain termination method) the original DNA sequencing technique in which dideoxy nucleotides, each labeled with a molecular beacon, are used to terminate chain elongation; the resulting incrementally sized fragments are then separated by electrophoresis to determine the sequence of the DNA molecule
  • sanitization protocol that reduces microbial load on inanimate surfaces to levels deemed safe for public health
  • saprozoic refers to protozoans that ingest small, soluble food molecules
  • SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome; caused by a zoonotic coronavirus that results in flu-like symptoms
  • saturated fatty acid lipid with hydrocarbon chains containing only single bonds, which results in the maximum number of hydrogen atoms per chain
  • scanning probe microscope a microscope that uses a probe that travels across the surface of a specimen at a constant distance while the current, which is sensitive to the size of the gap, is measured
  • scanning tunneling microscope a microscope that uses a probe that is passed just above the specimen as a constant voltage bias creates the potential for an electric current between the probe and the specimen
  • scarlet fever bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, marked by a high fever and a disseminated scarlet rash
  • schistosomiasis helminthic infection caused by Schistosoma spp.; transmitted from a snail intermediate host to human swimmers or bathers in freshwater
  • schizogony asexual reproduction in protozoans that is characterized by multiple cell divisions (one cell dividing to form many smaller cells)
  • scolex the head region of a cestode (tapeworm), which typically has suckers and/or hooks for attachment to the host
  • scrapie form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that primarily affects sheep
  • sebum lipid-rich substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin
  • secondary antibody antibody to which an enzyme is attached for use in ELISA assays; in direct and sandwich ELISAs, it is specific for the antigen being quantified, whereas in indirect ELISA, it is specific for the primary antibody
  • secondary immunodeficiency impaired immune response due to infection, metabolic disturbance, poor diet, stress, or other acquired factors
  • secondary infection second infection that develops after a primary infection as a result of the primary disease compromising immune defenses or antibiotics, thus eliminating protective microbiota
  • secondary lymphoid tissue one of two types of lymphatic tissue; comprises the spleen, lymph nodes, Peyer’s patches, and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
  • secondary response the adaptive immune response produced in response to a specific antigen to which the body has previously been exposed
  • secondary structure structure stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl and amine groups of a polypeptide chain; may be an α-helix or a β-pleated sheet, or both
  • secretory vesicle membranous sac that carries molecules through the plasma membrane to be released (secreted) from the cell
  • selective IgA deficiency primary immunodeficiency in which individuals produce normal levels of IgG and IgM, but are unable to produce secretory IgA
  • selective media media that contain additives that encourage the growth of some bacteria while inhibiting others
  • selective toxicity desirable quality of an antimicrobial drug indicating that it preferentially kills or inhibits the growth of the target microbe while causing minimal or no harm to the host
  • semiconservative DNA replication pattern of DNA replication process whereby each of the two parental DNA strands acts as a template for new DNA to be synthesized, producing hybrid old- and new-strand daughter molecules
  • semicritical item object that contacts mucous membranes or nonintact skin but does not penetrate tissues; requires a high level of disinfection
  • sense strand strand of DNA that is not transcribed for gene expression; it is complementary to the antisense strand
  • sepsis systemic inflammatory response to an infection that results in high fever and edema, causing organ damage and possibly leading to shock and death
  • septate hyphae hyphae that contain walls between individual cells; characteristic of some fungi
  • septic shock serious condition marked by the loss of blood pressure resulting from an inflammatory response against a systemic infection
  • septic the condition of being septicemic; having an infection in the blood
  • septicemia condition in which pathogens are multiplying in blood
  • septicemic plague form of plague that occurs when the bacterial pathogen gains access to the bloodstream
  • septum separating structure that forms during cell division; also describes the separating wall between cells in a filament
  • serial dilution sequential transfer of known volumes of culture samples from one tube to another to perform a several-fold dilution of the original culture
  • seroconversion point in an infection at which antibody to a pathogen is detectible using an immunoassay
  • serotype strain or variation of the same species of bacteria; also called serovar
  • serovar specific strain of bacteria identified by agglutination using strain-specific antisera
  • serum fluid portion of the blood after clotting has occurred; generally lacks clotting factors
  • sex pilus specialized type of pilus that aids in DNA transfer between some prokaryotic cells
  • sheath part of the tail on a bacteriophage that contracts to introduce the viral DNA into the bacterium
  • shigellosis gastrointestinal illness caused by Shigella bacteria, also called bacillary dysentery
  • shingles acute and painful rash that forms following the reactivation of a latent chickenpox infection
  • shock extreme drop in blood pressure that, among other causes, can result from a strong immune response to the activity of toxins or response to bacterial products and can result in death
  • shuttle vector a plasmid that can move between bacterial and eukaryotic cells
  • side chain the variable functional group, R, attached to the α carbon of an amino acid
  • sign objective and measurable indication of a disease
  • silent mutation point mutation that results in the same amino acid being incorporated into the resulting polypeptide
  • simple microscope a type of microscope with only one lens to focus light from the specimen
  • single-stranded binding protein protein that coats the single strands of DNA near each replication fork to prevent the single-stranded DNA from rewinding into a double helix
  • S-layer cell envelope layer composed of protein covering the cell walls of some bacteria and archaea; in some archaea, may function as the cell wall
  • slime layer a type of glycocalyx with unorganized layers of polysaccharides that aid bacterial adherence to surfaces
  • smear a thin layer of a specimen on a slide
  • smooth endoplasmic reticulum a type of endoplasmic reticulum that lacks ribosomes, is involved in the biosynthesis of lipids and in carbohydrate metabolism, and serves as the site of detoxification of toxic compounds within the cell
  • soft chancres soft, painful ulcers associated with the STI chancroid
  • soma cell body of a neuron
  • sonication method of microbial control that involves application of ultrasound waves to form cavitation within a solution, including inside cells, disrupting cell components as a result
  • Southern blot a technique in molecular genetics used to detect the presence of certain DNA sequences within a given DNA sample; DNA fragments within the sample are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, immobilized on a membrane, and then exposed to a specific DNA probe labeled with a radioactive or fluorescent molecular beacon to aid in detection
  • specialized transduction transfer of a specific piece of bacterial chromosomal DNA near the site of integration by the phage
  • specificity the ability of the specific adaptive immune system to target specific pathogens or toxins
  • spike viral glycoprotein embedded within the viral capsid or envelope used for attachment to host cells
  • spirochetes a group of long, thin, spiral-shaped fastidious bacteria that includes the human pathogens that cause syphilis, Lyme disease, and leptospirosis
  • spleen abdominal organ consisting of secondary lymphoid tissue that filters blood and captures pathogens and antigens that pass into it; also contains specialized macrophages and dendritic cells that are crucial for antigen presentation
  • spliceosome protein complex containing small nuclear ribonucleoproteins that catalyzes the splicing out of intron-encoded RNA sequences from the primary transcript during RNA maturation in eukaryotes
  • sporadic disease an illness that occurs at relatively low levels with no discernible pattern or trend, frequently with no geographic focus
  • spores specialized cells that may be used for reproduction or may be specialized to withstand harsh conditions
  • sporotrichosis subcutaneous infection caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenkii, which causes skin lesions and can potentially spread to the lymphatic system; also known as rose gardener’s disease or rose thorn disease
  • sporulation the process by which a vegetative cell produces a dormant endospore
  • spread plate method a technique used for inoculating plates with diluted bacterial samples for the purpose of cell counting; the liquid sample is pipetted onto solid medium and spread uniformly across the plate
  • St. Louis encephalitis mosquito-borne viral infection of the brain that occurs primarily in the central and southern United States
  • stage the platform of a microscope on which slides are placed
  • staining the addition of stains or dyes to a microscopic specimen for the purpose of enhancing contrast
  • staphylolysins a class of staphylococcal exotoxins that are cytotoxic to skin cells and white blood cells
  • starch energy-storage polysaccharide in plants; composed of two types of glucose polymers: amylose and amylopectin
  • start codon AUG codon, specifying methionine, which is typically the codon that initiates translation
  • stationary phase interval during which the number of cells formed by cell division is equal to the number of cells dying
  • stereoisomers isomers that differ in the spatial arrangements of atoms
  • sterilant strong chemical that effectively kills all microbes and viruses in or on an inanimate item
  • sterile field specified area that is free of all vegetative microbes, endospores, and viruses
  • sterilization protocol that completely removes all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from an item
  • steroid lipid with complex, ringed structures found in cell membranes and hormones
  • sterol the most common type of steroid; contains an OH group at one specific position on one of the molecule’s carbon rings
  • sticky ends short, single-stranded complementary overhangs that may be produced when many restriction enzymes cut DNA
  • stigma light-sensing eyespot found in Euglena
  • stop codon (nonsense codon) one of three codons for which there is no tRNA with a complementary anticodon; a signal within the mRNA for termination of translation
  • stratum corneum a layer of dead, keratinized cells that forms the uppermost layer of the epidermis
  • stroma a gel-like fluid that makes up much of a chloroplast’s volume, and in which the thylakoids floats
  • strongyloidiasis soil-transmitted intestinal infection caused by the helminth Strongyloides stercoralis
  • structural formula graphic representation of the molecular structure showing how the atoms are arranged
  • structural isomers molecules composed of the same numbers and types of atoms but with different bonding sequences
  • subacute bacterial endocarditis form of endocarditis in which damage to the valves of the heart occurs over months as a result of blood clot formation and immune-response-induced fibrosis of the valves
  • subcutaneous mycosis any fungal infection that penetrates the epidermis and dermis to enter deeper tissues
  • substrate chemical reactants of an enzymatic reaction
  • substrate-level phosphorylation direct method of ATP production in which a high-energy phosphate group is removed from an organic molecule and added to an ADP molecule
  • subunit vaccine vaccine that contains only key antigens as opposed to whole pathogens
  • sugar-phosphate backbone alternating sugar-phosphate structure composing the framework of a nucleic acid strand that results from phosphodiester bond formation between nucleotides
  • sulfonamides (sulfa drugs) group of structurally related synthetic antimicrobial compounds that function as antimetabolites, competitively inhibiting an enzyme in the bacterial folic acid synthesis pathway
  • superantigen class of exotoxin that triggers a strong nonspecific immune response with excessive production of cytokines (cytokine storm) causing inflammation, high fever, shock, and, potentially, death
  • supercoiled extensive wrapping and twisting of a DNA molecule, allowing the DNA to fit within a small space
  • supercoiling process in which DNA is underwound or overwound to fit inside a cell
  • supercritical fluid molecule, commonly carbon dioxide, brought to high pressures to reach a state that has physical properties between those of liquids and gases, allowing it to effectively penetrate surfaces and cells to form carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of cells considerably, leading to sterilization
  • superinfection secondary infection that may develop as a result of long-term, broad-spectrum antimicrobial use
  • surfactant group of chemical compounds used for degerming; lower the surface tension of water, creating emulsions that mechanically carry away microorganisms
  • sweat gland one of numerous tubular glands embedded in the dermis that secretes the watery substance known as perspiration
  • symbiosis any interaction between different species that are associated with each other within a community
  • symptom subjective experience of disease felt by the patient
  • synapse junction between a neuron and another cell
  • syncytia multinucleated cells that form from the fusion of normal cells during infections or other processes
  • syndrome group of signs and symptoms characteristic of a particular disease
  • syngamy process in which haploid gametes fuse
  • syphilis an STI caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum
  • systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) systemic autoimmune disease producing inflammatory type III hypersensitivities as antibodies form immune complexes with nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens

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T[edit | edit source]

  • T-cell receptors (TCR) molecules on T cells involved in the recognition of processed foreign epitopes presented with MHC I or MHC II
  • T lymphocyte lymphocyte that serves as the central orchestrator, bridging humoral, cellular, and innate immunity, and serves as the effector cells of cellular immunity; T cell
  • taeniasis infection caused by Taenia or Diphyllobothrium
  • tail fiber long protein component on the lower part of a phage used for specific attachment to bacterial cell
  • tail pins points extended at the base of a bacteriophage sheath that, along with tail fibers, lead to phage attachment to a bacterial cell
  • tapeworms segmented, hermaphroditic, parasitic flatworms (Platyhelminthes)
  • tartar calcified heavy plaque on teeth, also called dental calculus taxonomy the classification, description, identification, and naming of living organisms
  • T-dependent antigen a protein antigen that is only capable of activating a B cell with the cooperation of a helper T cell
  • TDP thermal death point is the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms are killed in a 10-minute exposure
  • TDT thermal death time is the length of time needed to kill all microorganisms in a sample at a given temperature
  • telomerase enzyme that attaches to the end of a linear chromosome and adds nucleotides to the 3’ end of one of the DNA strands, maintaining the telomere sequence, thus preventing loss of DNA from the end of the chromosome
  • telomere repetitive, noncoding sequence found at the end of a linear eukaryotic chromosome that protects the genes near the end of the chromosome from deletion as the DNA molecule is repeatedly replicated
  • temperate phage bacteriophage that can incorporate viral genome into the host cell chromosome and replicate with the host cell until new viruses are produced; a phage that undergoes the lysogenic cycle
  • teratogenic able to disrupt the normal development of a fetus in utero
  • terbinafine antifungal drug of the allylamine class that is used topically for the treatment of dermatophytic skin infections
  • termination of transcription stage of transcription that occurs when RNA polymerase has reached specific DNA sequences, leading to release of the enzyme from the DNA template, freeing the RNA transcript and, thus, halting transcription
  • termination of translation stage of translation during which a nonsense codon aligns with the A site, signaling release factors to release of the polypeptide, leading to the dissociation of the small and large ribosomal subunits from the mRNA and from each other
  • test sensitivity probability that a diagnostic test will find evidence of the targeted disease when the pathogen is present
  • test specificity probability that a diagnostic test will not find evidence of the targeted disease when the pathogen is absent
  • testes (singular testis) pair of glands located in the scrotum of males that produce sperm and testosterone
  • tetanus bacterial disease caused by exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani that causes a rigid paralysis
  • tetracyclines class of protein synthesis inhibitors that bind to the 30S subunit, blocking the association of tRNAs with the ribosome during translation
  • TH1 cells subtype of T cells that stimulate cytotoxic T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and NK cells
  • TH17 cells subtype of T cell that are essential for defense against specific pathogens and infections, such as chronic mucocutaneous infections with C. albicans
  • TH2 cells subtype of T cells that stimulate B cells and direct their differentiation; also involved in directing antibody class switching
  • thallus body of fleshy fungi (more generally, a body without a root, stem, or leaf) that commonly co-occurs with HIV infection; the microbes move to the lymphatic system in the groin
  • thermophile a microorganism that grows best at warm temperatures, typically between about 50 °C and 80 °C
  • thioglycolate medium medium designed to test the aerotolerance of bacteria; it contains a low concentration of agar to allow motile bacteria to move throughout the medium
  • thioglycolate tube culture contains reducing medium through which oxygen diffuses from the tube opening, producing a range of oxygen environments down the length of the tube
  • thylakoids a highly dynamic collection of membranous sacs found in the stroma of chloroplasts; site of photosynthesis
  • thymic selection a three-step process of negative and positive selection of T cells in the thymus
  • thymine dimer covalent linkage between two adjacent thymine bases on exposure to ultraviolet radiation
  • thymine pyrimidine nitrogenous base found only in DNA nucleotides
  • tincture solution of an antiseptic compound dissolved in alcohol
  • T-independent antigen a nonprotein antigen that can activate a B cell without cooperation from a helper T cell
  • tinea any cutaneous fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, such as tinea corporis, tinea capitis, tinea cruris, and tinea pedis
  • tinea capitis cutaneous mycosis of the scalp; also known as ringworm of the scalp
  • tinea corporis cutaneous mycosis of the body; also known as ringworm of the body
  • tinea cruris cutaneous mycosis of the groin region; also known as jock itch
  • tinea pedis cutaneous mycosis of the feet; also known as athlete’s foot
  • tissue tropism tendency of most viruses to infect only certain tissue types within a host
  • titer concentration obtained by titration; the reciprocal of a measurement of biological activity determined by finding the dilution of an unknown (e.g., antigen-specific antibody in an antiserum) that shows the defined end-point; always expressed as a whole number
  • tolerance lack of an anti-self immune response
  • toll-like receptors (TLRs) pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) that may be found on the external surface of phagocytes or facing inward in interior compartments
  • topoisomerase type of enzyme that helps maintain the structure of supercoiled chromosomes, preventing overwinding of DNA during certain cellular processes like DNA replication
  • topoisomerase II enzyme responsible for facilitating topological transitions of DNA, relaxing it from its supercoiled state
  • total magnification in a light microscope is a value calculated by multiplying the magnification of the ocular by the magnification of the objective lenses
  • toxemia presence of toxins in the blood
  • toxic shock syndrome severe condition marked by the loss of blood pressure and blood clot formation caused by a bacterial superantigen, toxic shock syndrome toxin
  • toxigenicity ability of a pathogen to produce toxins to cause damage to host cells
  • toxin poison produced by a pathogen
  • toxoplasmosis typically asymptomatic protozoan infection caused by Toxoplasma spp. and transmitted through contact with cysts in cat feces; infections in pregnant women may cause birth defects or miscarriage
  • trace element indispensable element present in cells in lower amounts than macronutrients; also called micronutrient
  • trachea also known as the windpipe, this is a stiffened tube of cartilage that runs from the larynx to the bronchi
  • trachoma a type of conjunctivitis, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, that is a major cause of preventable blindness
  • transcription factors proteins encoded by regulatory genes that function by influencing the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter and allowing its progression to transcribe structural genes
  • transcription process of synthesizing RNA using the information encoded in DNA
  • transcriptomics the study of the entire collection of mRNA molecules produced by cells; involves monitoring differences in gene expression patterns between cells at the mRNA level
  • transduction mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria in which genes are transferred through viral infection
  • transfection the introduction of recombinant DNA molecules into eukaryotic hosts
  • transformation mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria in which naked environmental DNA is taken up by a bacterial cell
  • transgenic describing an organism into which foreign DNA from a different species has been introduced
  • transient microbiota microorganisms, sometimes pathogenic, that are only temporarily found in the human body
  • transition reaction reaction linking glycolysis to the Krebs cycle, during which each pyruvate is decarboxylated and oxidized (forming NADH), and the resulting two-carbon acetyl group is attached to a large carrier molecule called coenzyme A, resulting in the formation of acetyl-CoA and CO; also called the bridge reaction
  • transport vesicle membranous sac that carries molecules between various components of the endomembrane system
  • transposition process whereby a DNA sequence known as a transposon independently excises from one location in a DNA molecule and integrates elsewhere
  • trench fever louseborne disease caused by Bartonella quintana and characterized by high fever, body aches, conjunctivitis, ocular pain, severe headaches, and severe bone pain
  • trench mouth a severe form of gingivitis, also called acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
  • treponemal serologic tests tests for syphilis that measure the amount of antibody directed against antigens associated with Treponema pallidum
  • triacylglycerol three fatty acids chemically linked to a glycerol molecule; also called a triglyceride
  • triazoles ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors used to treat several types of systemic yeast infections; exhibit more selective toxicity than the imidazoles and are associated with fewer side effects
  • trichinosis soil-transmitted intestinal infection caused by the nematode Trichinella spiralis; associated with cyst formation
  • trichuriasis intestinal infection caused by the whipworm Trichuris trichiura
  • triglyceride three fatty acids chemically linked to a glycerol molecule; also called a triacylglycerol
  • trimethoprim synthetic antimicrobial compound that functions as an antimetabolite to an enzyme in the bacterial folic acid synthesis pathway
  • tRNA small type of stable RNA that carries the correct amino acid to the site of protein synthesis in the ribosome and base pairs with the mRNA to allow the amino acid it carries to be inserted in the polypeptide chain being synthesized
  • trophozoite a life cycle phase in which protists are actively feeding and growing
  • tuberculosis life-threatening form of microbial infection marked by the presence of acid-fast bacteria growing in nodules (especially in the lungs)
  • tularemia infection of the lymphatic system by Francisella tularensis; also known as rabbit fever
  • tumbles (tumbling) random, circuitous movement of a bacterial cell, propelled by clockwise flagellar rotation
  • tumor collection or aggregate of cells; can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous)
  • tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid a naturally occurring plasmid of the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens that researchers use as a shuttle vector to introduce a desired DNA fragment into plant cells
  • turbidity cloudiness of a culture due to refraction of light by cells and particles
  • two-photon microscope a microscope that uses long-wavelength or infrared light to fluoresce fluorochromes in the specimen
  • tympanic membrane also referred to as the ear drum, this structure separates the outer and middle ear
  • type 1 diabetes mellitus hyperglycemia caused by an autoimmune disease affecting insulin production by β cells of the pancreas
  • type I hypersensitivity rapid-onset allergic reaction due to cross-linking of antigen-specific IgE on the outside of mast cells, resulting in release of inflammatory mediators
  • type III hypersensitivity inflammatory reaction induced by formation of immune complexes and their deposition in tissues and blood vessels
  • type IV hypersensitivity delayed T-cell-mediated inflammatory reaction that takes longer to manifest than the first three hypersensitivity types, due to the need for activation of antigen-presenting cell and T-cell subsets
  • typhoid fever serious illness caused by infection with certain serotypes of Salmonella

U[edit | edit source]

  • UHT pasteurization method of pasteurization that exposes milk to ultra-high temperatures (near 140 °C) for a few seconds, effectively sterilizing it so that it can be sealed and stored for long periods without refrigeration
  • ultramicrotome a device that cuts thin sections for electron microscopy
  • unit membrane biological membrane composed of two layers of phospholipid molecules with the nonpolar tails associating to form a hydrophobic barrier between the polar heads; also called lipid bilayer
  • unsaturated fatty acid lipid with hydrocarbon chains containing one or more carbon-carbon double bonds and subsequently fewer than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms per chain
  • uracil pyrimidine nitrogenous base found only in RNA nucleotides
  • ureter duct that transports urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder
  • urethra duct through which urine passes from the urinary bladder to leave the body through the urinary meatus
  • urinary bladder an organ that stores urine until it is ready to be excreted
  • use-dilution test a technique for determining the effectiveness of a chemical disinfectant on a surface; involves dipping a surface in a culture of the targeted microorganism, disinfecting the surface, and then transferring the surface to a fresh medium to see if bacteria will grow
  • uterus female reproductive organ in which a fertilized egg implants and develops

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V[edit | edit source]

  • vaccination inoculation of a patient with attenuated pathogens or antigens to activate adaptive immunity and protect against infection
  • vagina female reproductive organ that extends from the vulva to the cervix
  • vaginosis an infection of the vagina caused by overgrowth of resident bacteria
  • vancomycin cell wall synthesis inhibitor of the glycopeptide class
  • variolation the historical practice of inoculating a healthy patient with infectious material from a person infected with smallpox in order to promote immunity to the disease
  • vas deferens pair of ducts in the male reproductive system that conduct sperm from the testes and seminal fluid to the ejaculatory duct
  • vasculitis inflammation affecting blood vessels (either arteries or veins)
  • VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) test test for syphilis that detects anti-treponemal antibodies to the phospholipids produced due to the tissue destruction by Treponema pallidum; antibodies are detected through a flocculation reaction with cardiolipin extracted from beef heart tissue
  • vector animal (typically an arthropod) that transmits a pathogen from one host to another host; DNA molecules that carry DNA fragments from one organism to another
  • vegetative cell a cell that is actively growing and dividing, and does not contain an endospore
  • vein blood vessel that returns blood from the tissues to the heart for recirculation
  • viable cell live cell; live cells are usually detected as colony-forming units
  • viable plate count direct method of measuring microbial growth in a culture; the number of viable or live cells is usually expressed in CFU/mL
  • viral envelope lipid membrane obtained from phospholipid membranes of the cell that surrounds the capsid
  • viral hemagglutination inhibition assay assay used to quantify the amount of neutralizing antibody against a virus by showing a decrease in hemagglutination caused by a standardized amount of virus
  • viricide chemical or physical treatment that destroys or inactivates viruses
  • virion inert particle that is the reproductive form of a virus
  • viroid infectious plant pathogen composed of RNA
  • virulence degree to which an organism is pathogenic; severity of disease signs and symptoms
  • virulence factor product of a pathogen that assists in its ability to cause infection and disease
  • virulent phage bacteriophage for which infection leads to the death of the host cell; a phage that undergoes the lytic cycle
  • virus an acellular microorganism, consisting of proteins and genetic material (DNA or RNA), that can replicate itself by infecting a host cell
  • virusoid small piece of RNA associated with larger RNA of some infectious plant viruses
  • volutin inclusions of polymerized inorganic phosphate; also called metachromatic granules
  • vulva the female external genitalia

W[edit | edit source]

  • wavelength the distance between one peak of a wave and the next peak
  • Weil’s disease advanced stage of leptospirosis in which the kidney and liver become seriously infected
  • West Nile encephalitis mosquito-borne disease caused by the West Nile virus (WNV) that can result in swelling of the brain and death in severe cases
  • western blot technique used to detect the presence of a certain protein within a given protein sample in which proteins within the sample are separated by PAGE, immobilized on a membrane, and then exposed first to an antibody that binds to the protein of interest and then second to an antibody equipped with a molecular beacon that will bind to the first antibody
  • western equine encephalitis serious but rare mosquito-borne viral infection of the brain that is found primarily in the central and western United States
  • wet mount a slide preparation technique in which a specimen is placed on the slide in a drop of liquid
  • wheal-flare reaction localized type I hypersensitivity reaction, involving a raised, itchy bump (wheal) and redness (flare), to injected allergen
  • wild type phenotype of an organism that is most commonly observed in nature
  • Winterbottom’s sign acute swelling of lymph nodes at the back of the neck that is an early sign of African trypanosomiasis
  • wobble position third position of a codon that, when changed, typically results in the incorporation of the same amino acid because of the degeneracy of the genetic code
  • World Health Organization (WHO) international public health organization within the United Nations; monitors and communicates international public health information and coordinates international public health programs and emergency interventions

X[edit | edit source]

  • xenobiotic compound synthesized by humans and introduced to an environment in much higher concentrations than expected in nature
  • xenograft transplanted tissue from a donor that is of a different species than the recipient
  • x-y mechanical stage knobs knobs on a microscope that are used to adjust the position of the specimen on the stage surface, generally to center it directly above the light

Y[edit | edit source]

  • yeast any unicellular fungus
  • yeast infection fungal infection of the vagina typically caused by an overgrowth of resident Candida spp.
  • yellow fever mild to potentially fatal mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the yellow fever virus

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Z[edit | edit source]

  • Ziehl-Neelsen technique a method of acid-fast staining that uses heat to infuse the primary stain, carbolfuchsin, into acid-fast cells
  • zone of inhibition clear zone around a filter disk impregnated with an antimicrobial drug, indicating growth inhibition due to the antimicrobial drug
  • Z-scheme electron flow seen in noncyclic photophosphorylation in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria due to the use of both PSI and PSII
  • zygospores spores used by Zygomycetes for sexual reproduction; they have hard walls formed from the fusion of reproductive cells from two individuals


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