Survey Of Infectious Diseases Lesson 1.1

Capsule

A coating that surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, helps to protect against phagocytosis.

Rickettsia

A genus of gram-negative, pathogenic, obligate intracellular parasitic bacteria.

Staphlococci

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 and are highly pleomorphic (able to assume different forms.)

Fungi (Fungus)

A group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous.

Chlamydia

A large group of non-motile, gram-negative intracellular parasites.

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.

Diplobacilli

A pair of bacilli linked end to end.

Bacteria

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

Prion

A small proteinaceous infectious particle that believed to be responsible for spongiform encephalopathies in humans and other mammals.

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.

Rickettsiology

Area of science that studies Rickettsia.

Protozoa

Eukaryotic, animal-like, unicellular organisms; some of which may be pathogenic.

Streptobacilli

Rod-shaped bacteria occurring in chains.

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacteria.

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

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