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