PHT 312 - Microbiology for Embalmers - FINAL
Enterotoxin
A toxin that is produced within and/or affects the intestines.
Exotoxin
a bacterial toxin produced within a living cell and secreted into its surrounding medium
Endotoxin
a bacterial toxin that is liberated only when the cell producing it disintegrates
Disinfectant
a chemical or physical agent that destroys or inhibits disease-causing microorganisms
Capsule
a coating the surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, helps to protect against phagocytosis
Iodophores
a compound containing iodine which is often used as a preoperative skin disinfectant
Communicable
a disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another
Sporadic
a disease which occurs occassionally in a random or isolated manner
Antigen
a foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that react specifically with it
Exogenous infections
a form of infection caused by a pathogen or agent not normally present in the body
Rickettsia
a genus of gram-negative, pathogenic, obligate intracellular parasitic bacteria
Staphylococcus
a genus of gram-positive, nonmotile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters
Spirillum (pl. Spirilla)
a genus of spiral bacteria having a corkscrew shape with a rigid cell wall
Vibrio
a genus of spiral bacteria which are curved or bent rods that resemble commas
Mycoplasmas
a group of bacteria that lack cell walls and are highly pleomorphic
Fungus (pl. Fungi)
a group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous
Chlamydia
a large group of nonmotile, gram-negative intracellular parasites
Mechanical vector
a living organism capable of transmitting infections by carrying the disease agent on its external body parts or surfaces
Binary fission
a method of asexual reproduction involving halving of the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cell followed by the development of each half into a new individual cell
Strict (obligate) anaerobe
a microbe that can live only in the absence of free oxygen
Strict (obligate) aerobe
a microbe that can live only in the presence of free oxygen
Facultative aerobe
a microorganism that prefers an environment devoid of oxygen, but has adapted so that it can live and grow in the presence of oxygen
Diplobacilli
a pair of bacilli, linked end to end
Toxin
a poisonous substance of plant, animal, bacterial, or fungal origin
Sterilization
a process of completely removing or destroying all life forms and their products, including endospores
Bacteria
a prokaryotic one-celled microorganism of the Kingdom Monera, existing as a free-living organism or as a parasite, multiplying by binary fission and have a large range of biochemical properties
Symbiosis
a relationship in which organisms of different species live in close nutritional relationships
Mutualism
a relationship in which organisms of two different species live in close association to the mutual benefit of each
Prion
a small proteinaceous infectious particle that is believed to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and other mammals
Germicide
a substance that destroys microorganisms
Fungicide
a substance that kills fungi
Parasitism
a symbiotic relationship between two organisms in which one is harmed and the other benefits
Endospores
a thick-walled body produced by a bacterium to enable it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions
Bacterial colony
a visible group of bacteria growing on a solid medium, presumably arising from a single microorganism
Virucide
an agent destructive to viruses
Bactericide
an agent that destroys bacteria, but not necessarily their spores
Biological vector
an anthropod vector in which the disease-causing organism multiples or develops within the anthropod prior to becoming infective
Pandemic
an epidemic that has become very widespread or is worldwide
Local infection
an infection confined to one area of the body
General (Systemic) infection
an infection that involves the whole body
Strict (obligate) saprophyte
an organism that can survive only on dead or decaying organic matter
True Pathogen
an organism that due to its own virulence is able to produce disease
Opportunist
an organism that exists as part of the normal flora, but may become pathogenic under certain conditions
Strict (obligate) parasite
an organism that is completely dependent on its living host for survival
Facultative anaerobe
an organism that prefers the presence of oxygen, but is capable of living and growing in its absence
Fomite
any inanimate object that harbors a disease agent and may serve to transmit it
Rickettsiology
area of science that studies Rickettsia
Mesophile
bacteria that prefer moderate temperatures and develop best at temperatures between 25° and 40°C
Psychrophile
bacteria that prefers cold, thriving at temperatures between 0 and 25°C
Thermophile
bacteria that thrive best at high temperatures, between 40 and 70°C
Obligate anaerobe
can only exist in the absence of free oxygen - uses oxygen containing compounds
Bleaches (hypochlorites)
chlorine-containing compounds
Hypochlorites (bleaches)
chlorine-containing compounds
Septicemia
condition characterized by the multiplication of bacteria in the blood
Attenuation
dilution or weakening of the virulence of a micro-organism - reducing or abolishing pathogenicity
Epidemic
disease or condition that is currently in higher than normal numbers in a given community
Endemic
disease that occurs continuously in a particular region
Endogenous infection
disorder caused by an infectious agent already present in the body
Protozoa
eucaryotic, animal-like, unicellular organisms; some of which may be pathogenic
Antibody
glycoprotein substance developed by the body in response to, and interacting specifically with, an antigen - also known as immunoglobulin
Secondary infection
infection caused by a different organism than the one causing the primary infection
Mixed infection
infection caused by two or more organisms
Obligate aerobe
must have free oxygen in order to develop
Antagonism
mutual opposition or contrary action - the inhibition of one organism by another
Focal infection
one in which the organisms are orginally confined to one area, but enter the blood or lymph vessels and spread to other parts of the body
Non-symbiotic
organisms that are free-living; relationships are not required for survival
Heterotrophic bacteria
organisms that must obtain their nourishment from complex organic matter
Facultative aerobe
prefers an environment with no oxygen, but may live in the presence of oxygen - usually gets oxygen from oxygen-containing compounds, but may get it from free oxygen
Facultative anaerobe
prefers an environment with oxygen, but may live without it - usually get oxygen from free oxygen, but can obtain it from oxygen- containing compounds.
Facultative parasite
prefers dead organic matter as a source of nutrition, but can adapt to the use of living organic matter under certain conditions
Facultative saprophyte
prefers living organic matter as a source of nutrition, but can adapt to the use of dead organic matter under certain conditions
Osmotic pressure
pressure that develops when two solutions of different concentrations are separared by a semipermeable membrane
Sanitation
process to promote and establish conditions which minimize or eliminate biohazards
Microaerophilic
requiring very little free oxygen; as found with certain bacteria
Drug-fast
resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs
Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)
rod-shaped bacteria
Streptobacilli
rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains
Protozoology
science that deals with the study of protozoa
Bacteriology
science that studies bacteria
Microbiology
scientific study of microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms
Autotrophic bacteria
self-nourishing bacteria
Diplococci
spherical bacteria that occurs in pair
Streptococci
spherical-shaped bacteria occurring in chains
Spirochete
spiral-shaped bacteria having a flexible cell wall
Maximum temperature
temperature above which bacterial growth will not take place
Optimum temperature
temperature at which organisms grow best
Minimum temperature
temperature below which bacterial growth will not take place
Primary infection
the "first" infection that a host has after a period of health from which a second infection develops
Contamination
the act of introducing pathogens or infectious material into or onto an inanimate object
Mycology
the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi
Normal flora
the microbial population that lives with the host in a healthy condition
Bacteremia
the presence of bacteria in the blood
Toxemia
the presence of toxins in the blood
Antisepsis
the prevention or inhibiting of the growth of causative micro-organisms
Synergism
the relationship between two or more microorganisms of different species in which they grow better together, but can survive alone
Pathogenicity
the state of producing or being able to produce pathological changes and disease
Infection
the state or condition in which the body or a part of it is invaded by a pathogenic agent that, under favorable conditions, multiples and produces injurious effects
Virology
the study of viruses and viral diseases
Commensalism
the symbiotic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment, and the other is not harmed or benefited
Coccus (pl. Cocci)
the type of bacteria that is spherical or round in form