Microbiology

Chapter 1

TERMINOLOGY

1. Abiogenesis – the idea that life can arise spontaneously from nonliving material; the theory of spontaneous generation

2. Acellular microbe – infectious particles; microbe that is not composed of cells3. Antibiotic – a substance produced by a microorganism that kills or inhibits the growth of other

microorganisms4. Bacteriologist – one who specializes in the science of bacteriology5. Bacteriology – the study of bacteria6. Biogenesis - The theory that life originates from preexisting life and never from nonliving

matter7. Biology – the study of living organisms; the study of life8. Bioremediation – the use of microorganisms to clean up industrial and toxic wastes9. Biotechnology – the use of living organisms or their derivatives to make or modify products or

processes10. Cellular microbe – a microbe that is composed of cells11. Decomposers – microorganism that decompose or break down substances12. Etiologic Agent - the causative agent o an infectious disease13. Etiology – cause; as in etiology of a disease14. Fastidious Microorganisms – microorganism that are difficult to isolate from specimens and

grow in the laboratory, owing to their complex nutritional requirements15. Genetic Engineering – The insertion of foreign genes into microorganisms to enable the

microorganisms to produce specific gene products or to enable them to be used for other purposes

16. In Vitro – in an artificial environment as in a laboratory setting; used in reference to what occurs outside an organism

17. In Vivo – used in reference to what occurs within a living organism18. Indigenous microflora – microorganisms that live on and in the healthy body; also called

indigenous microbiota; referred to in the past as normal flora19. Infectious Disease - any disease caused by a microbe that follows colonization of the body by

that microbe20. Koch’s Postulate – a series of scientific steps, proposed by Robert Koch, that must be fulfilled to

prove that a specific microorganism is the cause of a particular disease21. Microbial ecology – study of the interrelationships among microbes and the world around them 22. Microbial intoxication – a disease that results from ingestion of a toxin that was produced by a

pathogen in vitro23. Microbiologist - one who specializes in the science of microbiology

24. Microbiology - the study of microbes25. Microorganisms - very small organisms; usually microscopic; also called cellular microbes;

includes bacteria, certain algae, protozoa and certain fungi26. Mycologist - one who specializes in the science of mycology27. Mycology - the study of fungi28. Nonpathogen - a microorganism that does not cause disease; such an organism is said to be

nonpathogenic 29. Obligate Intracellular Pathogen - a pathogen that must reside within another living cell;

examples include virus, chlamydias and rickettsias30. Opportunistic Pathogen – a microbe with the potential to cause disease but does not do so

under certain circumstances, may cause disease in susceptible persons with lowered resistance; also called an opportunist

31. Paleomicrobiology – the study of ancient microbes32. Parasite - an organism that lives on or in another living organism (called the host) and derives

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