A Glossary compiled students from MCB 233:
abscess: A localized collection of pus in part of the body; formed by tissue
disintegration and surrounded by an inflamed area
acid-resistant: Refers to organisms that are resistant to acid washout of stain
due to a tough outer wax covering; characteristic of tubercle bacillus
ACIP: Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices
aerobic: Containing oxygen; referring to an organism, cellular process, or environment
that requires oxygen
aerosol: Droplet suspended in the air that may contain microorganisms; major
route of inhalation transmission
agar: A gelatinous material derived from certain marine algae; base for bacterial
culture media
agglutination: The clumping together of red blood cells or bacteria, usually
in response to a particular antibody
amantadine: An antiviral drug, C10H17N·HCl, also used in the treatment
of Parkinson's disease; particularly used for influenza virus
ameba: Any of various one-celled aquatic or parasitic protozoans of the genus
Amoeba or related genera, having no definite form and consisting of a mass of
protoplasm containing one or more nuclei surrounded by a flexible outer membrane.
It moves by means of pseudopods
amphotericin B: An antibiotic derived from strains of the actinomycete Streptomyces
nodosus and used specifically in treating systemic fungal infections
anaerobic: Not containing oxygen; referring to an organism, cellular process,
or environment that does not require oxygen
anemia: A pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood,
measured in unit volume concentrations of hemoglobin, red blood cell volume,
or red blood cell number
antibody: An antigen binding immunoglobin; effector in immune response produced
by B cells
antigen: A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production
of an antibody; includes anything the body sees as foreign: toxins, bacteria,
foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs
antigenic drift: Refers to minor changes in viral proteins due to gene mutations
(point); usually refers to influenza virus
antigenic shift: Refers to major changes in viral proteins due to gene reassortment;
usually refers to influenza virus
asexual: Relating to, produced by, or involving reproduction that occurs without
the union of male and female gametes, as in binary fission or budding
asymptomatic infection: A type of infection without symptoms
attenuated: Refers to a bacteria or virus that has been made to be less virulent;
often used in vaccines
B-cells (B- Lymphocytes): Lymphocytes that respond to antigen by proliferation
and differentiation into memory cells and plasma cells; plasma cells secrete
antibody; differentiate in the bone marrow
binary fission: One mode of asexual reproduction that involves the splitting
of a parent cell into two approximately equal parts
biofilm: A complex, multi-cellular structure formed by certain bacteria when
they adhere to surfaces in aqueous environments; Characterized by excretion
of slimy, glue-like substances that can anchor them to many types of materials:
metals, plastics, soil particles, and tissue; Characteristic of P. aeruginosa
growth
bronchitis: Chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchial
tubes
cAMP: cyclic AMP; a second messenger of eukaryotic cells
capsid: The protein covering of some viruses; composed of capsomere subunits;
possible stimulus for immune response
capsule: Slimy outer coating of bacteria; a virulence factor that confers resistance
to phagocytosis
carrier: A person/animal that shows no symptoms of a disease but harbors the
infectious agent of that disease and may transmit it to others
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
chloroquine: A drug, C18H26ClN3, used mainly in the treatment and prevention
of malaria
complement: Refers to a protein belonging to the complement system- a branch
of innate immunity responsible for inflammatory response, phagocytosis, and
cell lysis in response to foreign cells
conformational change: A predictable movement within a protein that is associated
with biological activity
cyst: Dormant form of a protozoa; stable transmitted form that is resistant
to dessication
cytoplasm: Entire contents of the cell that excludes the nucleus and is bound
by theplasma membrane
cytotoxic: Refers to substances that are toxic to cells
dehydroemetine: A synthetic derivative of emetine; used in the treatment of
intestinal amoebiasis
desiccation: To dehydrate or remove water content
diloxanide furoate: 2,2-Dichloro-4'-hydroxy-N-methylacetanilide furoate; an
amoebicide used in the treatment of dysentery
dimorphic: phenomenon of fungi to exist as both different growth forms under
different environmental conditions, either as molds or yeast- filamentous and
unicellular respectively
disseminate: Spread of an organism to a distant site
doxycycline: A broad-spectrum antibiotic, C22H24N2O8, derived from tetracycline
edema: An excessive accumulation of serous fluid in tissue spaces or a body
cavity
electrolyte: Various ions, such as sodium, potassium, or chloride, required
by cells to regulate the electric charge and flow of water molecules across
the cell membrane
ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay): A highly sensitive immunoassay that
uses an enzyme linked to an antibody or antigen as a marker for the detection
of a specific protein, usually an antigen or antibody; often used as a diagnostic
test to determine exposure to a particular infectious agent by identifying antibodies
present in a blood sample
endemic: Refers to a type of disease or pathogen that is consistently found
in a population; examples are dental caries, gonorrhea, and athlete’s
foot
endoplasmic reticulum: An extensive membrane network’ continuous with
the nucleus, found in eukaryotic cells; two versions- rough and smooth
Enterovirus: small viruses that are made of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein.
This group includes the polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses
epidemic: A local outbreak of disease in a population that is determined by
an increase above the baseline level for the population
epithelial cells: Compose the epithelial layer- cells separated by very little
intercellular substance and form the covering of most internal and external
surfaces of the body and its organs
erythrocytes: Red blood cells
erythromycin: An antibiotic obtained from a strain of the actinomycete Streptomyces
erythreus, effective against many gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative
bacteria
exotoxins: Toxins that are secreted by a microorganism and released into the
medium in which it grows
fastidious: Refers to organisms that have complex nutritional requirements;
characteristic of parasitic species
fimbriae: Protrusions from the cell surface usually referring to pili; responsible
for bacteria attachment to surfaces
fungus: Eukaryotes belonging to the kingdom Eumycota; free living in environmental
sources; usually dimorphic; pathogenic strains can cause superficial, cutaneous,
subcutaneous, or systemic infection
gametocyte: A cell from which gametes develop by meiotic division, usually refers
to a spermatocyte or an oocyte
gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines
G protein: A GTP binding protein that acts as a switch to turn activities on
or off
Gram negative: Group of bacteria that do not retain crystal violet staining
and instead stain red or pink; reflective of the lack of the peptidoglycan layer;
contain Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)
hemolysin: A substance, such as an antibody or a bacterial toxin, that causes
the destruction of red blood cells; results in the release of hemoglobin
hemorrhage: Excessive loss of blood from the blood vessels; profuse bleeding
hepatocyte: A parenchymal cell of the liver
humoral: The branch of immunity that includes antibodies
icosahedral: One type of arrangement of the capsomer subunits of the viral
capsid; icosahedral symmetry refers to an arrangement of 20 triangular faces
and 12 vertices
immunity: Inherited, acquired, or induced resistance to infection by a specific
pathogen
immunoglobin: Refers to a superfamily of proteins that have similar domains
andcompose the polypeptide chains of antibodies
incidence: Refers to diease transmission, the number of cases of the disease
in a specific subset of the population
incubation period: The period between infection and the appearance of symptoms
of the disease
inflammation: A localized protective reaction of tissue to irritation, injury,
or infection, characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of
function
interleukin-1: A cytokine involved in many inflammatory effects including fever
induction, increased adhesion molecules, increased vascular permeability and
induction of respiratory burst
in vitro: In an artificial environment outside the living organism
in vivo: Within a living organism
iodoquinol: One of the halogenated 8-quinolinols widely used as an intestinal
antiseptic, particularly as an antiamebic agent; also used topically in other
infections
itraconazole: A broad-spectrum antifungal agent administered orally to treat
a variety of fungal infections
lipid A: Lipid anchor of Lipopolysaccharide layer of gram negative bacteria;
composed of disaccharides with short chain fatty acid and phosphate group attachments
LPS: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide, outer bilayer of gram negative bacteria;
endotoxin
lysis: The dissolution or destruction of cells; usually by the action of a specific
lysin that disrupts the cell membrane
lytic cycle: Type of viral replication cycle that results in the release of
new phages by lysis of the host cell
malaise: Unspecified feeling of bodily discomfort; as at the beginning of an
illness
meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and the spinal cord; of
bacterial or viral origin, characterized by fever, vomiting, intense headache,
and stiff neck
morbidity rate: Incidence of disease in a population, includes fatal and nofatal
cases
mortality rate: The ratio of deaths in an area to the population of that area;
expressed per 1000 per year
mucus: Slimy covering of some membranes that provides a protective mechanical
and chemical barrier
necrosis: Refers to cell death as a result of injury or disease, especially
in a localized area of the body
neutrophil: A granular white blood cell capable of phagocytosis
nonenveloped: Category of viruses without an envelope; the envelope is usually
comprised of virus specific proteins plus host derived components
non-motile: Not capable of movement
nosocomial: Refers to hospital acquired infection
nucleus: The organelle that contains the eukaryotic cell’s genetic material
opportunistic pathogen: A pathogen that is marginally pathogenic and requires
an compromised host to cause serious infection
parasite: An organism that grows, feeds, and is sheltered on or in a different
organism and does not contribute anything to host survival
paromomycin: An antibiotic in pill form used for the treatment of intestinal
infections, cryptosporidiosis in particular; Possible side effects include stomach
upset and diarrhea
Peyer’s patches: Lymphoid nodules found in the small intestines
pneumonia: An acute or chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the
lungs; usually caused by viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms
point mutation: A mutation that changes only one small area of one nucleotide
of a gene
protease: Refers to an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic breakdown of proteins
into peptides or amino acids; including the endopeptidases and exopeptidases
quorum sensing: Regulatory pathways in prokaryotes that respond to population
density
receptor-mediated endocytosis: Refers to the uptake of specific extracellular
macromolecules following their binding to specific receptors on the external
surface of the plasma membrane
reservoirs: Sources of pathogens in the environment that do not participate
directly in transmission to humans, examples: humans, animals, environment
rimantadine: An RNA synthesis inhibitor that is used as an antiviral agent in
the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza
RNA: Ribonucleic Acid
saprophytic: Refers to an organism that grows on and derives its nourishment
from dead or decaying organic matter; especially fungus or bacteria
seasonal distribution: Refers to the pattern of disease of a pathogen that varies
with the season; example rotavirus has a defined seasonal distribution
septate hyphae: Hyphae are filaments that molds grow as; septate refers to hyphae
that are divided by partitions
strain: A group of organisms of the same species, having distinctive characteristics
but not usually considered a separate breed or variety
systemic infection: An infection not localized in the body, disseminated widely
throughout the body
T-cells (T- Lymphocytes): Lymphocytes that respond to antigen by proliferation
and differentiation into Cytotoxic T-cells and Helper T-cells; differentiate
in the thymus
trophozoite: Active form of a protozoa; capable of growth and replication by
binary fission
tissue tropic: A pathogen’s predilection for specific tissues either due
to chemotaxis or specific receptors and environments
tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha): A cytokine secreted by activated macrophages
and T-cells whose action includes inflammatory effects, apoptosis, cachexia,
and induction of fever
tuberculate: Refers to tubercles : Nodules or swellings, especially a mass of
lymphocytes and epithelioid cells; characteristic lesion of tuberculosis
vaccine: A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium
or virus, or of a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration
stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but
is incapable of causing severe infection
vector: An organism that carries disease-causing microorganisms from one host
to another; for example a mosquito or tick
virulence factors: Microbial characteristics that increase infectivity or severity
of disease; examples include adhesins, toxins, and LPS
zygote: The cell formed by the union of two gametes, for example a fertilized
ovum before cleavage
© 2003,
J.Graf, for comments please contact Joerg.Graf@uconn.edu
