Microbiology : It deals with the study of micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and other micro-organisms.
Bacterium (pl. Bacteria) : This is a unicellular organism that lacks a nucleus and cytoplasmic organelles other than ribsomes, reproduces by binary fission and occurs in one of three shapes (rod, sphere, spiral). Bacteria are our friends and foes. They produce many diseases in humans.
Protozoan (pl. Protozoa) : Animal like heterotrophic, unicellular organism.
Virus : A non-living, obligate, intra-cellular parasite consisting of an outer capsid and an inner core of nucleic acid. They spread many diseases to humans.
Abscess : It is pus-filled lesion characteristic of staphylococcal-skin disease.
Acyclovir (Zovirax) : A drug used as a topical ointment for herpes simplex and injected for herpes encephalities.
Adjuvant : A substance such as aluminium sulphate that increases the efficiency of a vaccine.
Agar : A derivative of a marine sea-weed used as a solidifying agent in many microbiological media.
Agglutination : A type of antigen-antibody reaction that results in visible clumps of organisms or other material.
Agglutinins : Antibodies that participate in agglutination reactions.
Agranulocytes : The destruction of neutrophils (granulocytes) resulting from the reaction of antibodies with antigens on the neutrophil surface, a form of type II hypersensitivity.
Alginate : A carbohydrate thickening agent used in icecream, soups and other foods, industrially produced by micro-organisms.
Allergen : An antigenic substance that stimulates an allergic reaction in the body.
Alloantigens : Antigens that exist in certain but not all members of a given species, examples are A, B and Rh factors in humans.
Allograft : A tissue graft between two members of the same species, such as between two humans.
Anaphylaxis : A life-threatening allergic reaction in which series of mediators cause contractions of smooth muscle throughout the body.
Antibody : A highly specific protein molecule produced by plasma cells in the immune system, antibodies function in humoral immunity.
Antigen : A chemical that elicits a response by the body’s immune system.
Antiglobulin Antibody : An antibody that reacts with human antibodies.
Antitoxins : Antibodies that circulate in the bloodstream and provide protection against toxins by neutralizing them.
Autoantigens : A person’s own proteins and other organic compounds that elicit a specific response in the body.
Autograft : Tissue taken from one part of the body and grafted to another.
Bacteriocins : A process in which food is subjected to steam for four to five minutes in order to destroy cellular enzymes and enhance preservation.
Cancer : A circular, purplish hard ulcer with a raised margin that occurs during primary syphilis.
Chimera : A plasmid engineered to contain a fragment of foreign DNA.
Close : A collection, or colony of identical cells arising from a single cell.
Clone : A collection, or colony, or identical cells arising from a single cell.
Colostrum : The first milk secreted from the mammary gland of animals or humans.
Complement : A group of proteins that functions in a cascading series of reactions during the response by the body to certain antigens, the complement cascade is stimulated by antigen-antibody activity.
Disinfectant : A chemical used to kill pathogenic micro-organisms on a lifeless object such as a table top.
Droplets : Airborne particles of mucus and sputum from the respiratory tract that contain disease organisms.
Eaton Agent : An alternative name for Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Edema : A swelling of the tissues brought about by an accumulation of fluid.
Endotoxin : A metabolic poison produced chiefly by Gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxins are part of the bacterial cell wall and, consequently, are released on cell disintegration. They are composed of lipid-polysacchride-peptide complexes.
Enterotoxin : A toxin that is active in the gastrointestinal tract of the host.
Enterovirus : A virus that infects intestinal cells.
Episome : A plasmid attached to the chromosome of a bacterium.
Erythema : A zone of redness in the skin due to accumulation of blood.
Exotoxin : A metabolic poison produced chiefly by Gram-positive bacteria, exotoxins are released to the environment on production, they are composed of protein and affect various organs and systems of the body.
Fab Fragment : The portion of the antibody molecule that combines with the determinant sites of the antigen.
Fc Fragment : The portion of the antibody molecule that combines with phagocytes, viral receptor sites and complement.
Fermentation : Anaerobic respiration in which intermediaries in the process are used as electron acceptors, also refers to the industrial use of micro-organisms.
Fimbriae : These are short, hairlike structures used by bacteria for attachment, sometimes used as an alternative expression for pili.
Fomites : Inanimate objects such as clothing or utensils that carry disease organisms are called fomites.
Fungemia : Dissemination of fungi through the circulatory system.
Genome : The nucleic acid core of the virus.
Gonococcus : A colloquial expression for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Hansen’s Disease : An alternative name for leprosy.
Hemagglutinin : An enzyme on the surface spikes of certain influenza viruses that allows the virus to bind to red blood cells.
Hemolysins : Enzymes that dissolve red blood cells, produced by streptococci, staphylococci, gas gangrene bacilli, and other micro-organisms.
Humoral Immunity : Immunity arising from the activity of antibodies directed against antigens in the blood stream.
Hybridoma : A mass of cells produced by the fusion of myeloma cells with antigen-stimulated plasma cells, produces monoclonal antibodies.
Icosahedron : A symmetrical figure composed of 20 triangular faces and 12 points, one of the major shapes taken by the virus.
Imidazoles : A group of antifungal drugs that interfere with sterol synthesis in fungal cell membranes, includes miconazoles and ketoconazoles.
Immunoglobulin : An alternative term for antibody.
Inducer : A substance that may activate that operon of the cell by combining with and negating the repressor Protein.
Inflammation : A non-specific defensive response to injury, usually characterized by red colour from blood accumulation, warmth from the heat of blood, swelling from fluid accumulation, and pain from injury to local nerves.
Interferon : An antiviral protein produced by body cells on exposure to viruses, interferon triggers production of a second protein that binds to mRNA coded by the virus and thereby inhibits viral replication.
Interleukins : Lymphokines produced by white blood cells that act on other white blood cells, important in cellular immunity.
Iodophores : Complexes of iodine and detergents that release iodine.
Isograft : Tissue taken from an identical twin and grafted to the other twin.
Job’s Syndrom : An immune disorder characterized by defective chemotaxis between phagocyte and micro-organism.
Killer Tl-ymphocyte : A type of T-Iymphocyte that attacks and destroys cells altered by the presence of antigens, important in the destruction of cancer cells, also called a killer cell.
Klebs-Loffler Bacillus : A common term for Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Koch-Weeks Bacillus : An alternative name for Haemophilus aegypticus.
Leukemia : A cancer of the blood-white blood cells.
Leukocidin : An enzyme that destroys phagocytes thereby preventing phagocytosis of the parasite.
Lymphoblast : The young cell to which the T-lymphocyte reverts, lymphoblasts secrete lymphokines.
Lymphocyte : A type of leukocyte that functions in the immune system.
Lymphokines : Proteins that increase the eficiency of phagocytosis at the antigen sites in cellular immunity.
Lymphopoietic Cells : Primitive cells that arise from stem cells and are modified to form B-lymphocytes or T-lymphocytes.
Lysogeny : The phenomenon in which a virus remains in the cell cytoplasm as a fragment of DNA or attaches to the chromosome, but fails to replicate in or destroy the cell.
Macrophages : Large cells derived from monocytes and found within the tissues, macrophages actively phagocytize foreign bodies and comprise the reticuloendothelial system (RES).
Magnetosome : A cytoplasmic body in certain bacteria that assists orientation to the environment by aligning with the magnetic field.
Malt : Digested barley grains used in beer fermentations.
Mast Cells : Connective tissue cells to which lgE fixes in type I hypersensitivity reactions, the cells degranulate and release histamine during allergic attacks.
Memory Cells : Cells derived from Blymphocytes or T-lymphocytes that react rapidly upon the future recurrence of antigens in the tissues.
Meningitis : A general term for infection of the meninges due to any of several bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa. It is a dangerous disease.
Mesophiles : Organisms that grow at the temperature range of 20-40oC.
Micro-organism : A microscopic form of life including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa and some multicellular parasites.
Mole : The quantity of a substance whose weight in grams is numerically equivalent to the molecular weight of that substance.
Monocyte : A leukocyte with a large bean-shaped nucleus, functions in phagocytosis.
Mycoplasmas : A group of tiny bacteria that lack cell walls and are seen only with the electron microscope.
Myeloma : A mass of cancerous cells.
Nanometer : A unit of measurement equivalent to one billionth of a meter (10-9m), the unit is designated as nm and is often used in measuring viruses and the wavelength of light.
Neoplasm : An uncontrolled growth of cells, often called a tumour.
Neurotoxin : A toxin that is active in the nervous system of the host.
Neutralization : A type of antigen-antibody reaction in which the activity taking place between reactants is not visible.
Night Soil : Human faeces sometimes used as an agricultural fertilizer.
Okazaki Fragments : Segments of DNA that combine with one another to form a DNA molecule during chromosomal duplication.
Oncogene : A region of DNA in human cells thought to induce uncontrolled growth of the cell if permitted to function.
Oncology : The study of tumors and cancers.
Operon : The unit of gene activity that expresses a particular trait, also the unit that controls protein synthesis.
Opsonins : Antibodies for complement components that encourage phagocytosis.
Opsonization : Enhanced phageo-cytosis due to the activity of antibodies or complement.
Papilloma : A tumour of the skin tissue.
Pasteurization : A heating process that destroys pathogenic bacteria in a fluid such as milk and lowers that overall number of bacteria in the fluid.
pH : An abbreviation for the negative logarithm of the amount of hydrogen ion concentration in 1 litre of solution, the pH scale extends from 1 to 14 and indicates the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
Phagocyte : A cell that practises phagocytosis.
Phagocytosis : A process in which solid particles are taken into the cell, important in nutritional processes and in defence against disease.
Phagosome : A vesicle that contains particles of phagocytized material.
Picornavius : A small virus containing RNA in its genome.
Pili : Short, hairlike appendages of bacteria that anchor the cell to a surface. Pili are also involved in conjugations between bacteria.
Pinocytosis : A type of phagocytosis in which materials dissolved in fluid are taken into the cell.
Plaque : A clear area on a lawn of bacteria where viruses have destroyed that bacteria, also the gummy layer of gelatinous material consisting of bacteria and organic matter on the teeth.
Plasmid : A small, closed loop molecule of DNA apart from the chromosome. Plasmids carry genes for drug resistance and pilus formation and are used in genetic engineering experiments.
Potable Water : Water fit to drink.
Precipitins : Antibodies that participate in precipitation reactions.
Prions : Infectious particles of protein, possibly involved in human diseases of brain.
Properdin : A protein that functions in the alternative pathway of complement activation.
Prophase : The DNA segment of a temerate phase.
R Factors : Plasmids that occur frequently in Gram-negative bacteria and carry genes for drug resistance.
Reagin : An alternative name for the lgE that stimulates anaphylaxis in the body.
Repressor Protein : A protein that inhibits the activity of certain genes, lysogeny is established when repressor protein is produced under direction of a virus.
Resolving Power : The numerical value of a lens system that indicates the size of the smallest object that can be seen clearly when using that system.
Retrovirus : An RNA virus that uses reverse transcriptase to synthesise DNA from RNA.
Reverse Transcriptase : An enzyme that synthesize a DNA molecule from the code supplies by an RANA molecule.
Ropy Bread : Bread that has become soft and stringy due to capsular material deposited by a bacterium such as Bacillus subtilies.
Sabin Vaccine : A type of polio vaccine prepared with attenuated viruses. The vaccine is taken orally.
Sake : A type of rice beer produced primarily in the Orient.
Sarcoma : A tumour of the connective tissues. It is kind of cancer.
Speticemia : A generalized bacterial infection of the bloodstream due to any of several organisms including streptococci and staphylococci, once known as blood poisoning.
Serology : The branch of immunology that studies serological reactions.
Serotype : The rank of classification below the species level based on an organism’s reaction with antibodies in serum, used for several bacteria, especially Salmonella.
Sexduction : A process of recombination in which chromosomal genes pass from a donor cell to a recipient cell while attached to the F factor.
Silage : A type of animal feed produced by fermenting grains and other plants in silos, the huge cylindrical structures that often stand next to barns.
Starter Culture : A quantity of bacteria added to milk in the industrial production of dairy products.
Stem Cell : A primordial cell of the bone marrow from which hemopoietic and lymphopoletic cells develop.
Sterilization : The removal of all life forms, especially baterial spores.
Stormy Fermentation : Fermentation and curdling of milk accompanied by gas accumulation that forces the curd apart.
Suppressor T-Lymphocyte : A T-lymphocyte that interferes with the activity of B-lymphocyte.
Synthetic Vaccine : A vaccine that contains chemically synthesized parts of micro-organisms, such as proteins normally found in viral capsids.
Target Cells : Cells to which lgG fixes during type II hypersensitivity.
Thermal Death Point : The temperature required to kill an organism in a given length of time.
Thermophiles : Organisms that grow at a high temperature ranges of 40oC to 90oC.
Tissue Typing : An immunological procedure used to locate compatible tissue types for transplantation.
Titer : The most dilute concentration of antibody that will yield a positive reaction with specific antigen, a method of expressing the amount of antibody in a sample of serum.
T-Lymphocyte : A lymphocyte that is modified in the thymus gland and is associated with the system of cellular immunity, also called a T-cell.
Toxin : A poisonous substance produced by a species of micro-organism. Bacterial toxins are classified as exotoxins or endotoxins.
Toxoid : An immunizing agent produced from an exotoxin that elicites antitoxin production by the body.
Transduction : A type of baterial recombination in which a virus transports fragments of DNA from a donor cell to a recipient cell.
Transposon : A segment of DNA that moves from the one site on a DNA molecule to another site, transposons carry information for protein synthesis, also known as jumping genes.
Ultrapasteurization : A pasteurization process in which milk is heated at 82oC for 3 seconds.
Vaccinia : The alternative name for cow pox.
Vaginitis : The term vaginitis is used for disease of the vagina.
Varicella : An alternative name for chickenpox, means “little vessel”, a reference to small chickenpox lesions.
Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulir (VZIG) : A preparation of purified antibodies from blood donors that give some protection to chickenpox.
Vector : A living organism that transmits the agents of disease.
Virion : A completely assembled virus outside its host cell.
Viroids : Tiny fragments of nucleic acid associated with certain plant diseases, possibly associated with animal disease.
V-Z Virus : The name given to the virus that causes varicellia (chickenpox) an herpes zoster (shingles).
Wandering Cells : Cells of the reticule endothelial system that move about actively within the tissues.
Whiskey : Distilled spirits produced by fermentation of malted cereal grains. It contains ethyl alcohol.
Wort : The fluid portion of mashed barley grain used in beer production.
Xenograft : A tissue graft between members of different species such as between an animal and a human.
Yeast : A type of fungus that is unicellular and resembles bacteria in culture.
Zoonosis : An animal disease that may be transmitted to humans.
Shopping Cart
