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microbiology flashcard
glossary flashcards
72
Microbiology
Undergraduate 1
07/08/2012

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Term
abattoir
Definition
slaughterhouse
Term
abscess
Definition
a localized collection of pus
Term
accessory cells
Definition
macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells that express, along with class II MHC glyco-proteins, antigen on their surfaces in a form recognizable by lymphocytes
Term
acquired pellicle
Definition
the thin, structureless film of salivary glycoproteins that forms on the tooth surface
Term
acquired immunity
Definition
the acquired immune status that develops as a consequence of an infection or of immunization with vaccines
Term
acute
Definition
having a short and relatively severe course
Term
adaptive immunity
Definition
antigen-specific protection resulting from the formation of antibodies and effector T cells
Term
ADCC
Definition
antibody-determined cell-mediated cytotoxity; the destruction of igG-coated cells by K cells
Term
adhesins
Definition
components on the microbial surface that are used for attachment to host cells or tissue
Term
adjuvant
Definition
a substance administered with an antigen (especially with a vaccine) to enhance the immune response to the atigen
Term
aerobic
Definition
requiring oxygen for growth
Term
aerosol
Definition
a solution delivered as fine mist
Term
aerotolerant
Definition
referring to the ability of obligate anaerobes to tolerate the presence of oxygen
Term
aflatoxin
Definition
a fungal toxin produced by certain species of aspergillus
Term
agglutination
Definition
a reaction in which cells are clumped, as occurs in the interaction of a particulate antigen with antibody
Term
agglutinin
Definition
antibody that can cause agglutination
Term
AIDS
Definition
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, an often fatal disease that especially strikes multicontact male homosexuals; probably a defect in cell-mediated immunity in which there is a preponderance of suppressor T cells over helper T cells; opportunistic infections often cause the fatality
Term
allergen
Definition
an antigen that elicits allergic reactions
Term
allergy
Definition
commonly refers to harmful/unpleasant reactions of immunological or seemingly immunological origin; in the strict sense, a type I reactivity (atopy, anaphylaxis)
Term
allograft (homograft)
Definition
a tissue or organ graft between members of the same species who are not identical
Term
allosteric enzyme
Definition
an enzyme whose reactivity with another molecule such as its substrate is altered because of interaction of the enzyme with other molecules
Term
alopecia
Definition
loss of hair due to disease
Term
alpha hemolysis
Definition
a type of blood agar plate hemolysis in which there is partial destruction of the red blood cells and some leakage of hemoglobin resulting in the greenish discoloration of the medium surrounding the microbial colony
Term
alternative (alternate) complement pathway
Definition
the complement pathway that is activated at the C3 level; does not require immune products for activation and is therefore important for nonspecific host resistance
Term
alveolar
Definition
pertaining to the small sac-like structures in the lung
Term
alveolar bone
Definition
the type of bone supporting the teeth
Term
amphitrichous
Definition
having one flagellum at each pole of the cell
Term
amylopectin
Definition
intracellular storage polysaccharide synthesized by bacteria in dental plague
Term
anablism
Definition
metabolic process involved in the synthesis of cell material
Term
anaerobic
Definition
growing only in the absence of molecular oxygen
Term
anaerobiosis
Definition
life in the absence of oxygen
Term
analogues
Definition
closely similar compounds that can sometimes replace an essential metabolite
Term
anamnestic response
Definition
a rapid increase of antibodies or effector T cells due to immune memory cells following subsequent exposures (e.g., booster doses) to the same antigen
Term
anaphylatoxin
Definition
complement fragments C3a or C5a that mediate intense inflammatory reactions by causing the degranulation of mast cells
Term
anaphylaxis
Definition
a type I reactivity in which a hypersensitive individual is sensitized against a specific antigen; reaction primarily involves vasodilation and smooth muscle contraction
Term
aneurysm
Definition
a sac formed from the dilation of the walls of an artery or vein and filled with blood
Term
anhemolytic
Definition
having no hemolytic activity on blood agar media
Term
anorexia
Definition
a condition in which the person has no appetite
Term
antibiogram
Definition
pattern of results obtained from tests used to determine a microorganism's susceptibility to antimicrobials
Term
antibiotic
Definition
a chemical compound produced by microorganisms that can inhibit or kill other microorganisms
Term
antibody
Definition
a glycoprotein produced by mammalian hosts in response to a foreign body called the antigen; the antibody reacts specifically with the antigen that induced it
Term
anticodon
Definition
the triplet of nucleotides in a transfer DNA molecule that complements a specific codon on the messenger RNA
Term
antigen
Definition
a substance that induces an immune response and that reacts with the products of the immune response
Term
antigenic binding site
Definition
the variable region of the Fab portion of the immunoglobulin molecule that binds a specific or closely related antigenic determinant
Term
antigenic determinants
Definition
small, discrete chemical groups on the antigen surface that combine with the antigen binding site on an immunoglobulin molecule or on a lymphocyte receptor
Term
antigen presenting cell (APC) (see Accessory cells)
Definition
macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells that express, along with Class II MHC glyco-proteins, antigen on their surfaces in a form recognizable by lymphocytes
Term
anti-idiotype
Definition
an immune product that reacts with the antigenic determinants of the antigen binding site
Term
antimetabolite
Definition
a molecule that bears a strong resemblance to one required in a normal physiological reaction
Term
antiseptic
Definition
a chemical compound that can be used on the surface of living tissue and that inhibits bacterial growth
Term
antiserum
Definition
a serum containing specific antibodies
Term
antitoxin
Definition
a specific antibody capable of neutralizing the exotoxin that stimulated its production
Term
ANUG
Definition
acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Term
arthralgia
Definition
painful swollen joints
Term
arthropathy
Definition
disease of joints
Term
arthropod
Definition
invertebrate with jointed limbs
Term
arthrospore
Definition
an asexually produces fungal spore that is thick-walled and barrel-shaped
Term
arthus reaction
Definition
a type III hypersensitivity that is produced when antigen-antibody complexes activate complement; it leads to hemorrhage and inflammation resulting in necrosis
Term
ascospore
Definition
a sexual spore of the ascomycetes
Term
aseptic
Definition
free of living microorganisms
Term
aspergilloma
Definition
a ball of hyphae of the genus aspergillus that accumulates at the site of infection
Term
asphyxia
Definition
suffocation
Term
aspiration
Definition
a process in which fluids are removed from body cavities
Term
assimilation
Definition
transformation of nutrients into biologically useful compounds or structures
Term
asthma
Definition
a respiratory condition causing difficulty in breathing
Term
atopic allergies
Definition
common clinical allergies involving IgE
Term
atrophy
Definition
the wasting away of a tissue, organ, or limb
Term
attenuation
Definition
lessening; reduction of the virulence of microorganisms as in a vaccine
Term
australia antigen
Definition
hepatitis B surface antigen associated with serum hepatitis (hepatitis B); originally discovered in an Australian aborigine (hence the name)
Term
autocatalysis
Definition
a process in which the product of a reaction acts as a catalyst to accelerate the reaction
Term
autoclave
Definition
sealed chamber used for sterilizing
Term
autograft
Definition
tissue graft from one site to another in the same person
Term
autoimmune disease
Definition
disease in which the host's immune system destroys its own tissue
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