Lesson 1.1 Terms

Bacteria

-a prokaryotic one-celled microorganism of the Kingdom Monera -existing as free-living organisms or as parasite -multiplying by binary fission and having a large range of biochemical properties.

Bacillus

Rod shaped bacteria

Capsule

a coating that surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, helps to protect against phagocytosis. (more like a defense mechanism)

Rickettsia

a genus of gram-negative, pathogenic, obligate intracellular parasitic bacteria. usually spread by arthropod vectors

Staphylococci

a genus of gram-positive, non-motile, opportunistic bacteria which tend to aggregate in irregular, grape-like clusters.

Spirillum

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; making them highly resistant to antibiotics that target cell walls.... and are highly pleomorphic (able to assume different shapes and forms)

Fungus (PI. fungi)

a group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous. - yeast - molds - Dimorphic

Chlamydia

a large group of non-motile, gram-negative intracellular parasites. also an obligate intra cellular parasite

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. - how bacteria reproduce

Diplobacilli

a pair of bacilli linked end to end.

Prion

a small proteinaceous infectious particle that believed to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and other mammals. - does NOT contain DNA or RNA

Endospore

a thick-walled body produced by a bacterium to enable it to survive unfavorable environmental conditions.

Virus

an intracellular, infectious parasite capable of replicating only in living cells, containing only one form of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)

Rickettsiology

area of science that studies Rickettsia.

Protozoa

one celled eukaryotic, animal-like, unicellular organisms; majority don't cause disease, but some of which may be pathogenic.

Streptobacilli

rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains.

Protozoology

science that deals with the study of protozoa.

Microbiology

scientific study of microorganisms and their effects on other living organisms.

Diplococci

spherical bacteria that occur in pairs.

Streptococci

spherical shaped bacteria occurring in chains

Spirochete

spiral-shaped bacteria having a flexible cell wall.

Mycology

the branch of science concerned with the study of fungi.

Bacteriology

the science that studies bacteria.

Virology

the study of viruses and viral diseases

coccus (pi. cocci)

the type of bacteria that is spherical or round in form.