Liptoteichoic acid Glycerol phosphate polymer covalently linked to a lipid that anchors the structure directly in the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-positive bacteria, passing through the murein layer to interact with the host.

Also: Bacterial ALT · membrane teichoic

Wall waxy mycolic acid High molecular weight branched fatty acid that provides impermeable consistency against disinfectants in mycobacteria.

Also: mycolic lipid from Mycobacterium · waxy component of the bacterial wall

Mycolic acid from mycobacteria Branched beta-hydroxylated fatty acid with a chain of up to ninety carbons covalently present in the bacterial wall, conferring the consistency of waterproof wax.

Also: waxy mycolic lipid component · Mycobacterium wall lipids

Teichoic acid Ribitol phosphate or glycerol phosphate polymer covalently linked to peptidoglycan in the cell wall of Gram-positive bacteria, which participates in the regulation of cell division and ionic homeostasis.

Also: acidic cell wall polymer

Extreme acidophile Microorganism adapted with stable membrane systems that allow it to multiply and maintain internal homeostasis in environments with pH values markedly lower than 3.

Also: strict acidophile · microbe adapted to extreme acidity

Bacterial chromosomal DNA Supercoiled deoxyribonucleic acid molecule typically organized in a circular shape that harbors the set of genes essential for prokaryotic survival.

Also: circular bacterial chromosome · double-stranded genomic nucleoid

Direct bacterial agglutination Immunological reaction characterized by the visible formation of aggregates or clumps of complete bacteria upon interaction with specific immunoglobulins in vitro.

Also: agglutination of whole bacterial cells · direct agglutination test

Serum agglutinin Soluble IgM or IgG class globular antibody capable of inducing detectable agglutination or aggregation by binding to microbial particulate antigens.

Also: serum agglutinating antibody · serum free agglutinin

Extreme alkaliphile Microorganism that requires very basic environmental conditions with stable pH values that constantly exceed the threshold of 9 for its viability and optimal cell division.

Also: strict alkaliphile · microbe adapted to extreme alkalinity

Amastigote intracellular replication Parasitic phase that is morphologically spherical, immobile and lacking a free flagellum that actively proliferates by binary division in the cytoplasm of mononuclear phagocytes.

Also: intracellular tissue amastigote · immobile stage of hemoflagellates

Bacterial amensalism Asymmetric competitive relationship in which the incidental synthesis of acidic or disinfectant byproducts by one species collaterally inhibits another neighboring species.

Also: biological antagonism due to amensalism · collateral inhibition by metabolites

Standard diffusion antibiogram Qualitative antimicrobial susceptibility method performed on agar plates where paper discs with antibiotics generate circular halos of inhibition.

Also: Kirby-Bauer antibiogram · disk diffusion susceptibility technique

Fungal arthroconidium Asexual spore produced after septation and subsequent condensation of vegetative hyphae that disarticulate into individual discrete cell fragments.

Also: asexual arthrospora · hyphal fragmentation fungal spore

Viroplasm Assembly Dense intracytoplasmic region delimited without a lipid membrane that selectively concentrates proteins and genes for the synthesis of new virions.

Also: viral replication viroplasma factory · viral assembly viroplasm

Ascomycota Ascospora Haploid spore of sexual origin generated endogenously within cellular structures in the form of membranous sacs called asci.

Also: fungal sexual ascospore · haploid ascus spore

Plasmidic colicin bacteriocin Bactericidal protein encoded by specific bacterial plasmids of Escherichia coli, secreted to destroy related bacterial strains in a targeted manner.

Also: enteric colicin from Col plasmid · enteric bactericidal bacteriocin

Mediated bacteriocynogenesis Genetically determined bacterial cellular capacity to biosynthesize and release peptide compounds with antibacterial bactericidal activity in a targeted manner.

Also: biosynthesis and secretion of active bacteriocins

Tempered bacteriophage Bacterial virus with the capacity to integrate its genome into the chromosome of the host bacteria in the form of a prophage, or alternatively trigger a lytic infection depending on the cellular metabolic state.

Also: moderate phage · lysogenic bacterial virus

Abyssal barophile Organism adapted to proliferate and perform cell division ideally under massive hydrostatic pressures present in the depths of the seabed.

Also: deep marine piezophile · high pressure bacteria from sea trench

Basidiospora of Basidiomycota Haploid spore of sexual origin that develops exogenously on the apical portion of projections called sterigmata in mature basidia.

Also: sexual fungal basidiospore · exogenous spore of basidium

Yeast blastoconidia Asexual spore of fungal origin produced through a localized budding process on the cell pole of a yeast mother cell.

Also: budding blastoconidium · asexual yeast blastospore

Tissue latency bradyzoite Stage of extremely delayed intracellular multiplication that Toxoplasma gondii assumes in tissue cysts located in organs with low peripheral immune reactivity.

Also: slow latency trophozoite · bradyzoite in tissue cyst

Crystalline S layer Surface monomolecular macromolecular structure composed of identical subunits of proteins or glycoproteins that self-assemble forming a two-dimensional crystalline network on bacteria and archaea.

Also: crystalline surface protein layer · S-layer cell

Viral capsid Macromolecular coat of protein origin that covers and preserves the viral nucleic acid against mechanical inactivation and extracellular enzymatic degradation of the host.

Also: capsid of viral protein origin · structural viral envelope

Structural capsomer Elementary polypeptide protein unit that self-assembles in a specific regular geometric arrangement to form the protective envelope or capsid of the virus.

Also: viral capsid subunit · viral structural protein block

Bacterial polymeric capsule Well-organized outer layer firmly adhered to the cell wall, composed of polysaccharides or polypeptides, which acts as a crucial virulence factor by inhibiting immune phagocytosis.

Also: rigid capsular glycocalyx · organized capsular layer

Polyhedral carboxysome Biological microcompartment with a protein coat present in autotrophic prokaryotes involved in concentrating the RuBisCO enzyme to fix carbon dioxide.

Also: ruBisCO bacterial polyhedral body · carboxysome microcompartment

L-shaped bacterial cell Stable or unstable bacterial variant that proliferates metabolically viable in the complete absence of peptidoglycan wall synthesis by chemical induction.

Also: bacteria in stable L phase · L form of wall deficiency

Free swimming cercaria Motile aquatic larva provided with a propulsive tail and a piercing anterior disk that actively emerges from snails to locate the definitive host.

Also: swimming larva of digenetic trematode · transcutaneously penetrating cercariae

Lysogenic replicative cycle Silent viral persistence process in which the genetic material of a phage is covalently incorporated into the host bacterial genome, passively replicating in each cell division.

Also: bacterial lysogenic cycle · tempered phage persistence

Lithic replicative cycle Viral replication pathway in which the bacteriophage hijacks the cellular machinery to synthesize new virions immediately, culminating in the degradation of the bacterial cell wall and lysis.

Also: phage lytic cycle · phagic lytic reproduction

Kinetoplast of flagellated protozoa Dense discoidal complex of circular mitochondrial DNA interconnected in maxicircles and minicircles located adjacent to the base of the flagellum in kinetoplastids.

Also: mitochondrial kinetoplast of trypanosomatids · Kinetoplast DNA

Mitochondrial kinetoplast Dense mitochondrial structure that stores massive networks of DNA minicircles inside protozoa belonging to the order kinetoplastids.

Also: mitochondrial kinetoplast of protozoans · kinetoplast kinetoplast of parasites

Fungal chlamydospore Asexual fungal cell with a thickened cell wall that differentiates from hyphae to persist in a viable state during prolonged periods of desiccation.

Also: asexual chlamydospore of molds · persistent fungal chlamydoconidium

Persistent chlamydospore Rounded asexual fungal structure protected by a thickened double cell wall, which differentiates from hyphae under limiting conditions.

Also: fungal survival chlamydoconidium · thick-walled chlamydospore

Ellipsoidal chlorosome Large volume light energy capturing cellular structure anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane in green sulfur bacteria rich in bacteriochlorophyll.

Also: chlorosome photosynthetic antenna · chlorosome of photosynthetic bacteria

Free bacterial coagulase Enzyme specifically secreted by Staphylococcus aureus that reacts with plasma prothrombin, triggering the direct polymerization of free fibrinogen into protective fibrin filaments.

Also: staphylococcus coagulase · free fibrin activating enzyme

Clostridium perfringens collagenase Bacterial metalloprotease capable of directly hydrolyzing structural collagen fibers, favoring the necrosis of infected muscle tissues.

Also: clostridial bacterial collagenase · gangrene tissue invasion factor

Gas gangrene collagenase Metalloprotease with proteolytic capacity secreted by anaerobic clostridial bacteria responsible for degrading the structural bonds of collagen in the host tissue matrix.

Also: degradative microbial collagenase · gas myonecrosis toxin

Minimum bactericidal concentration in vitro The lowest therapeutic concentration of an antibiotic that irreversibly destroys 99.9% of a population of viable bacteria tested.

Also: Susceptibility CMB · bactericidal lethal dose in vitro

Minimum antimicrobial inhibitory concentration Quantitative parameter that defines the lowest dilution of an antibiotic agent that completely restricts visible bacterial growth after standard incubation.

Also: MIC of antibiotic · minimum bacterial inhibitory dose

Free asexual conidium Asexual fungal spore of non-exogenous origin that differentiates directly and freely in the apical portion of specialized hyphae called conidiophores.

Also: asexual conidiospore · free exogenous fungal spore

Direct bacterial conjugation Process of horizontal transfer of genetic material that requires mating and direct physical contact between a donor and a recipient bacteria through a molecular bridge.

Also: plasmid transfer by conjugation · horizontal bacterial mating

Viral lysogenic conversion Stable modification of the phenotype and virulence of a host bacteria due to the expression of specific genes carried and contributed by a prophage integrated into its genome.

Also: phageal conversion · conversion by prophage

Peptidoglycan cortex Dense layer of modified peptidoglycan rich in calcium dipicolinate that surrounds the inner cell nucleus of the mature endospore, giving it thermostability.

Also: cortex of the bacterial endospore · modified murein sporulated cortex

Photosynthetic chromatophore Vesicular invagination of the prokaryotic internal membrane that selectively concentrates light-capturing complexes and bacterial photosynthetic pigments.

Also: bacterial photosynthetic membranous vesicle · cell chromatophore

Cytoplasmic inclusion body Insoluble intracellular storage granule or microcompartment lacking a membrane unit, used by bacteria to accumulate reserves of polyphosphate, glycogen or polyhydroxyalkanoates.

Also: inclusion of bacterial reserve · prokaryotic storage granule

Fungal Septum Woronin Body Spherical cellular safety protein corpuscle located near the septal pore in ascomycetes to prevent cytoplasmic loss in the event of rupture.

Also: fungal Woronin septal plug · fungal septal pore microbody

Keratin dermatophyte Filamentous fungus endowed with the proteolytic machinery necessary to metabolize the structural keratin of superficial tissues such as the epidermis.

Also: epidermal keratinolytic fungus · dermatological dermatophyte

E-quantitative susceptibility test Semiquantitative bacterial susceptibility test performed on agar that uses strips impregnated with a stable gradient of antibiotics.

Also: CMI epsilometry · continuous gradient bacterial susceptibility test

Viral cytopathic effect Set of structural alterations of a morphological and biological nature appreciable under the microscope that the eukaryotic host cell experiences as a direct consequence of the replication cycle.

Also: Cell culture CPE · virus-induced cell damage

Bacterial endospore Highly resistant, metabolically dormant resting cellular structure, produced intracellularly by genera such as Bacillus and Clostridium in response to extreme hostile environmental conditions.

Also: resistance bacterial spore · endospore · latent prokaryotic form

Lateral flow immunochromatographic assay Rapid in vitro microbiological diagnostic test based on capillary migration of antigens labeled with colloidal gold.

Also: rapid lateral flow test · rapid diagnostic immunochromatography

Viral lipid envelope External phospholipid membrane of cellular origin modified with specific viral glycoproteins that is acquired by budding through the internal membranes of the host cell.

Also: viral lipid bilayer envelope · external lipid viral envelope

ADP-ribosylating enzyme Protein exotoxin secreted by bacteria that modifies and inactivates essential proteins of the host cell by adding ADP-ribose from NAD+.

Also: ADP-ribosylase toxin from bacteria · bacterial ADP-ribosylation toxin

Insect tract epimastigote Flagellated phase of active extracellular replication presented by Trypanosoma cruzi in the intestinal lumen of the triatomine insect vector, equipped with a short undulating membrane.

Also: triatomine vector epimastigote · Chagas vector multiplication stage

Fungal membrane ergosterol Majority hydrophobic lipid sterol located specifically in the cytoplasmic membrane of fungi, responsible for regulating the turgor and structural fluidity of the bilayer.

Also: lipid component of fungal membrane · polyene target

Gram-negative spheroplast Gram-negative bacterial cell in which the murein layer has been partially enzymatically degraded, preserving remains of the outer membrane.

Also: wall-deficient spheroplastic bacteria · osmotically unstable prokaryotic spheroplast

Bacterial periplasmic space Gelatinous and aqueous compartment delimited by the inner cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane in Gram-negative bacteria, which houses degradative enzymes, transport proteins and chaperones.

Also: periplasm · periplasmic space

Meiotic fungal spore Haploid structure of fungal reproduction that is generated after processes of cellular karyogamy and subsequent reduction by nuclear meiosis.

Also: haploid sexually reproducing spore · fungal meiotic spore

Mold sporangiophore Differentiated fungal hypha with vertical aerial growth responsible for supporting the spore-producing sporangium at its terminal end.

Also: aerial hyphae carrying sporangium · zygomycete sporangiophore

Tissue infecting sporozoite Fusiform parasitic phase with a developed apical complex that actively migrates in the tissues to selectively penetrate the initial host cells.

Also: infective sporozoite · mobile fusiform stage of apicomplexans

Multinucleated tissue schizon Intracellular multinucleated parasitic giant cell that originates during the asexual phase of schizogony, synchronously segmenting its cytoplasm to mature merozoites.

Also: multinucleated giant meront · mature schizont of schizogony

Physical moist heat sterilization Physical autoclave treatment that uses water vapor at high pressures to denature proteins and eliminate viable endospores.

Also: pressurized wet steam sterilization · physical autoclaving of materials

Chemical gas sterilization Low temperature sterilizing process that eradicates spores and bacteria through the diffusion of reactive gases such as ethylene oxide.

Also: gas sterilization of ethylene oxide · sterilizing gaseous chemical treatment

Reactive chemical sterilization Total biological eradication process using gases or solutions with high sterilizing reactive chemical activity such as ethylene oxide at low temperatures.

Also: sterilization by gaseous ethylene oxide · cold chemical sterilization

Betahemolytic streptokinase Noncatalytic protein secreted by streptococci that interacts directly with cellular plasminogen, activating it into free plasmin to degrade fibrin barriers.

Also: soluble streptococcal streptokinase · exogenous fibrin activator

Streptococcal streptokinase Noncatalytic activator of soluble plasminogen secreted by streptococci involved in the lysis of fibrin networks to spread bacterial infection.

Also: bacterial streptokinase from Streptococcus · streptococcal fibrin activator

Membranous exosporium Thin lipoprotein and hydrophobic covering that makes up the most peripheral cellular layer that loosely covers various Bacillus endospores.

Also: exosporium of bacterial endospores · membranous exosporium layer

Secreted protein exotoxin Soluble and highly toxigenic molecule synthesized intracellularly by viable bacteria that is actively released into the cellular environment to alter specific host cells.

Also: soluble extracellular bacterial toxin · secreted bacterial exotoxin

Fasciola hepatica encysted Metacercaria stage of Fasciola hepatica devoid of swimming tail and surrounded by protein envelope, fixed in plants that represents the infective phase.

Also: infectious metacercaria from Fasciola hepatica · Fasciola larval cyst

Population decline phase Last stage of closed bacterial culture in which the rate of cell death irreversibly exceeds the reproduction rate due to the limiting accumulation of toxic acid metabolites.

Also: bacterial cell death phase · closed cultivation decline

Growth latency phase Initial interval in a bacterial growth curve in closed culture during which the inoculated cells adapt physiologically by synthesizing the necessary enzymes and transporters without dividing.

Also: growth lag phase · metabolic adaptation period

Stationary growth phase Period of bacterial development in which the total number of viable cells remains constant due to a net balance established between the rate of multiplication and the rate of cell death.

Also: microbial growth plateau · stationary phase of closed cultivation

Exponential phase of growth Metabolic stage characterized by regular and constant logarithmic bacterial population doubling at a maximum speed determined by the genetic endowment of the species.

Also: log phase of bacterial growth · logarithmic multiplication stage

HEPA cabin filtration Physical method of separation and retention of particles suspended in air flow that uses high-efficiency sterile glass fiber microscopic networks.

Also: HEPA air filtration · HEPA purification in biosafety cabinets

Sterile air HEPA filter High efficiency filter composed of glass microfibers that physically retains bacteria suspended in cabin air flows.

Also: microbiological HEPA purifier · laboratory biosafety HEPA filter

Adhesion fimbria Short, filamentous protein appendage present in large quantities on the envelope of various bacteria, specialized in mediating the tight binding of the bacteria to specific tissue receptors of the host.

Also: bacterial adhesion hair · surface anchor fimbria

Prokaryotic flagellum Rigid and rotating helical structure composed of the protein flagellin, driven by a proton gradient-dependent molecular motor that provides active motility in liquid media.

Also: bacterial scourge · prokaryotic motor appendage

Prokaryotic photoautotrophy Photosynthetic process of cellular assimilation in which light radiation is captured to produce chemical energy usable in the direct fixation of gaseous carbon dioxide.

Also: prokaryotic autotrophic photosynthesis · autotrophic photolithotrophy

Prokaryotic photoheterotrophy Metabolic route of microorganisms that use the energy of solar light radiation to synthesize ATP, but require the assimilation of pre-existing external organic sources of carbon.

Also: prokaryotic metabolic photoorganotrophy · heterotrophic phototrophism

Germination of endospores Coordinated sequence of cellular hydration and metabolic reactivation of an inactive endospore that physiologically reverts to the active vegetative cellular state.

Also: germinative reactivation of bacterial endospores · spore germination

Nitrogen reserve granule Soluble inorganic inclusion rich in amino acids such as aspartate and arginine that selectively accumulate cyanobacteria as a cellular reserve.

Also: cyanophycin granule from cyanobacteria · cyanophycin nitrogen reserve

Extreme halophile Microorganism physiologically adapted to grow and maintain its cell turgor optimally only in hypersaline substrates or environments with high salt concentrations.

Also: strict halophilic organism · extreme saline inhabitant

Viral hemagglutinin Surface glycoprotein characteristic of various viruses that binds to sialic acid residues in erythrocytes, inducing their agglutination, mediating cell union.

Also: viral hemagglutination peplomer · HA viral envelope

Extracellular bacterial hyaluronidase Microbial invasion enzyme that selectively hydrolyzes the glycosidic bonds of hyaluronic acid in connective tissue, favoring rapid tissue dispersion of the pathogen.

Also: bacterial tissue diffusion factor · bacterial hyaluronate lyase

Fungal coenocytic hypha Continuous branched and tubular filamentous cell structure that lacks transverse partitions or septa along its path, characterized by having multiple free cytoplasmic nuclei.

Also: fungal aseptate filament · multinucleated non-septate hypha

Multinucleated coenocytic hypha Continuous non-septated tubular filament that has a common cytoplasm rich in floating nuclei characteristic of basal order fungi.

Also: continuous fungal aseptate filament · coenocytic hypha of Mucorales

Fungal septate hypha Multicellular cylindrical filamentous structure of higher fungi divided at regular intervals by transverse septa that contain microscopic cytoplasmic regulatory pores.

Also: septate fungal filament · hypha with transverse septa

Extreme hyperthermophile Microorganism belonging to the domains Archaea or Bacteria that requires temperatures above 80 °C for optimal survival and multiplication.

Also: strict hyperthermophilic organism · inhabitant of hydrothermal vents

Dimorphic pathogenic fungus Fungal organism with the reversible capacity to alternate morphologically between a pathogenic unicellular yeast phase and an environmental saprophytic mycelial filamentous phase.

Also: pathogenic biphasic fungus · fungal dimorphism of medical interest

Definitive reproduction host Higher-rank biological organism within which the parasite reaches complete physiological development and carries out its active sexual reproduction phase.

Also: mature definitive host · final host of the parasite

Development intermediary host Organism that temporarily or chronically hosts the immature larval stages or the obligatory biological asexual multiplication phases of the parasite.

Also: intermediary host · host of asexual multiplication

Paratenic transport guest Facultative refuge host in which the parasitic larval stages remain viable without undergoing development, maturation or biological multiplication in their tissues.

Also: passive transport host · bridge host

Molecular viral integrase Enzyme of viral origin encoded by retroviruses responsible for catalyzing the insertion and permanent physical integration of the double-stranded DNA genome into the host's chromosomes.

Also: retrovirus integrase · viral integration polymerase

Mobile bacterial integron Molecular DNA platform with recombinant capacity to capture, accumulate and transcribe mobile genetic cassettes that carry resistance to multiple antibiotics.

Also: mobile cassette integration · bacterial recombination platform

Genomic island of bacterial pathogenicity Long block of bacterial chromosomal DNA acquired by horizontal transfer that encodes multiple specific virulence and aggression factors.

Also: bacteria pathogenicity island · island of genomic virulence

Integrated viral genome latency Silent state of viral infection characterized by the covalent physical insertion of the virus's genetic material into chromosomes of the host cell.

Also: viral latency due to chromosomal integration · latent cellular provirus

Endotoxic Lipid A Phosphorylated and esterified glucosamine with hydrophobic branched fatty acids that composes the lipopolysaccharide anchor in the Gram-negative prokaryotic outer membrane.

Also: lipid component A of LPS · lipid A endotoxin

Prokaryotic magnetosoma Intracellular membranous inclusion that contains aligned chains of magnetite or greigite crystals, allowing magnetotactic bacteria to orient themselves according to the Earth's magnetic lines.

Also: bacterial magnetite microcrystal · prokaryotic magnetotactic organelle

Bacterial outer membrane External asymmetric lipid bilayer that covers the thin peptidoglycan wall of Gram-negative bacteria, whose external portion contains abundant protective lipopolysaccharides.

Also: prokaryotic outer lipid envelope · external permeability barrier

Cell invasion merozoite Small fusiform and free structure that hatches after the asexual segmentation of a schizont, structurally specialized for the immediate reinvasion of surrounding erythrocytes.

Also: free blood merozoite · form of apicomplexan invasion

Moderate temperature mesophyll Microorganism adapted to divide and proliferate ideally in a temperate intermediate thermal range usually located between 20 °C and 45 °C.

Also: adapted mesophilic bacteria · mesophilous microorganism

Resistant wall metacercaria Encysted larval stage, metabolically dormant and devoid of a propulsive tail that adheres to fresh aquatic vegetation, constituting the digestive infective form.

Also: encysted trematode larva · infective Fasciola cyst

Absorbent vegetative mycelium Three-dimensional network of fungal hyphae that actively penetrate into the organic substrate with the aim of secreting enzymes and internalizing solubilized nutrients.

Also: basal absorption mycelium · network of vegetative hyphae

Obligate microaerophile Microorganism that strictly requires reduced molecular oxygen tensions, typically 2% to 10%, due to a lower concentration of enzymes that protect against oxidative stress.

Also: strict cellular microaerophile · reduced oxygen dependent bacteria

Freshwater ciliate miracidium First stage free-living aquatic larva completely covered in ciliated eyelashes that swims seeking to penetrate the tissues of the host snail.

Also: miracidium trematode larva · ciliated miracidium of first host

Envelope neuraminidase Membrane glycoprotein enzyme with glycosyl-hydrolase activity present in the influenza virion, responsible for selectively cleaving terminal sialic acid residues.

Also: viral membrane sialidase · virus structural neurominidase

Viral nucleocapsid Biological macromolecular complex made up of the viral nucleic acid genome closely associated with the structural proteins of the capsid that cover it uniformly.

Also: viral nucleoprotein core · structural nucleocapsid of viruses

Prokaryotic nucleoid Irregularly shaped cytoplasmic region that is not limited by nuclear membranes, where the covalently closed supercoiled bacterial DNA chromosome is located.

Also: bacterial nuclear equivalent · free prokaryotic chromosome

Cestode egg oncosphere Microscopic hexacanth embryo provided with three pairs of symmetrical chitinous anchoring hooks that is mature inside cestode eggs.

Also: hexacanth embryo of cestodes · Tapeworm oncosphere larva

Sporulation oocyst Cell stage of resistance and environmental propagation protected by an extremely rigid lipoprotein wall that contains the reproductive zygotes of apicomplexans.

Also: parasitic resistance oocyst · sporulated oocyst

Polycistronic gene operon Prokaryotic functional group of contiguous structural genes that are transcribed synchronously under the control of a single operonic promoter.

Also: coordinated bacterial operon · prokaryotic polycistronic transcript

Osmophilic saccharophilic Microorganism capable of developing in an adapted way in media of high viscosity and high osmotic pressure caused by high concentration of sugars.

Also: organism adapted to sugary substrates · saccharophilic bacteria

Glycoprotein peplomer Glycoprotein encoded by the viral genome that protrudes radially in the form of a spicule or projection from the external surface of the envelope of animal viruses.

Also: viral envelope spike · cell anchor peplomer

Peptidoglycan Complex polymer formed by alternating chains of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylmuramic acid linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds and cross-linked by short peptides, which confers rigidity, shape and osmotic pressure support to the bacterial cell wall.

Also: murein · murein network · peptidoglycan

Rigid murein peptidoglycan Bilayer skeletal and macromolecular structure that covers the internal bacterial membrane, guaranteeing physical integrity against turgor variations.

Also: bacterial structural murein · peptidoglycan skeleton of the wall

Conjugative pili Elongated and rigid tubular protein structure that projects from the surface of F+ donor bacteria, whose function is to mediate initial physical contact and transfer of plasmid DNA during mating.

Also: bacterial sexual hair · conjugation pilus · hair F

F fertility plasmid of bacteria Double-stranded accessory element that regulates the biosynthesis of the conjugative pilus, facilitating the dissemination of resistance genes among prokaryotes.

Also: bacterial conjugation F plasmid · bacteria fertility factor F

Bacterial R resistance plasmid Circular extrachromosomal DNA molecule with autonomous replication that carries resistance genes to multiple antibiotics transmissible by horizontal conjugation.

Also: bacterial resistance factor R · drug resistance plasmid

Extrachromosomal plasmid Genetic element of circular double-stranded DNA that replicates autonomously and independently of the bacterial chromosome, conferring selective advantages as virulence determinants.

Also: Autonomous plasmid DNA · natural plasmid vector

Prokaryotic polysome Bacterial cell structure consisting of a long filament of single-stranded messenger RNA simultaneously linked to several 70S ribosomes coupled to translation.

Also: bacterial translation polyribosome · simultaneous translation polysome

Transmembrane porin Trimeric protein complex that forms non-energetic passive hydrophilic channels through the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, facilitating the diffusion of low molecular weight polar solutes.

Also: outer membrane porin channel · transmembrane pore protein

Soluble precipitinogen Antigen of a soluble molecular nature that reacts selectively against specific immunoglobulins, generating insoluble three-dimensional precipitations.

Also: precipitation molecular antigen · soluble precipitating ligand

Infectious prion Acellular particle of strictly protein nature devoid of nucleic acids, which is capable of self-replication inducing a pathogenic conformational change in normal cellular isoforms.

Also: abnormal prion protein · infectious prion-type particle

Integrated prophage Genome of a tempered bacteriophage that is physically integrated into the chromosome of the host bacteria or as a latent cytoplasmic plasmid without inducing immediate cell destruction.

Also: latent integrated phage · chromosomal phage genome

Vector transmission promastigote Motile cell stage of Leishmania characterized by presenting a fusiform body with an anterior kinetoplast and a free propulsive flagellum that multiplies in the vector.

Also: promastigote of sand fly vector · flagellated metacyclic form

Viral maturation protease Selective proteolytic processing viral enzyme involved in fragmenting structural polyproteins to allow three-dimensional assembly of the mature virion.

Also: virus structural protease · viral maturation peptidase

Gram-positive protoplast Gram-positive bacterial cell completely devoid of a rigid wall after hydrolysis with lysozyme, sensitive to the osmotic shock of the aqueous environment.

Also: protoplastic bacteria without a wall · prokaryotic protoplast of murein removed

Cellular provirus Genome of a virus of eukaryotic origin that has been integrated by covalent bond into the DNA of the nuclear chromosome of the host cell, persisting latently.

Also: integrated viral genome · eukaryotic chromosomal provirus

Elek in vitro test Qualitative double radial immunodiffusion assay in agar gel used to directly demonstrate the toxigenic capacity of Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Also: Elek plate toxigenicity test · Elek immunoprecipitation test

Diagnostic Weil-Felix test Serum cross-agglutination reaction that uses particulate antigens from specific Proteus strains to detect antibodies generated against rickettsiae.

Also: Weil-Felix serological reaction · Proteus cross-agglutination

Candida pseudohypha Elongated and unstable filamentous structure made up of yeast cells that carry out continuous budding, remaining united by narrow cell wall constrictions.

Also: false yeast sprouting hyphae · fungal pseudomycelium

Obligatory psychrophile Microorganism physiologically adapted to proliferate exclusively at low temperatures, with optimal growth below 15 °C and cell death at warm temperatures.

Also: strict cryophilic microorganism · lover of extreme cold

Tolerant psychrotroph Microorganism that exhibits an optimal temperate development temperature but has the physiological capacity to multiply slowly at refrigeration temperatures.

Also: bacterial psychrotolerant · bacteria adapted to low ambient temperatures

Chemolithautotrophy Mode of energy and biosynthetic metabolism in which the microorganism uses reduced inorganic compounds as electron donors and carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source.

Also: autotrophic chemolithotrophism · autotrophic cellular lithotrophy

Bacterial chemoorganotrophy Type of cellular energy metabolism in which the microorganism obtains its ATP energy and reducing power from the controlled oxidation of organic carbon compounds.

Also: chemoorganotrophic metabolism · bacterial organotrophy

Structural wall chitin Insoluble linear polysaccharide composed of repetitive subunits of N-acetylglucosamine beta-1,4 that provides rigidity and structural integrity to the fungal wall.

Also: wall fungal chitin · rigid N-acetylglucosamine polymer

Prokaryotic quorum sensing Mechanism of cellular communication and interrelation mediated by the release of autoinducing signaling molecules that coordinate the coordinated expression of specific genes on a population basis.

Also: coordinated cellular autoinduction · bacterial intercellular chemical communication

Swelling Quellung Reaction Rapid microscopic immunological assay that reveals the capsule of encapsulated bacteria through cross-linking of antibodies that increase capsular refractoriness.

Also: microscopic capsular swelling test · Quellung phenotype

Global bacterial resistome The exhaustive set of all the molecular determinants of antibiotic resistance present in the metagenome of microbial communities.

Also: global metagenomic resistome · total reservoir of resistance genes

HIV reverse transcriptase Retroviral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme responsible for synthesizing a complementary strand of double-stranded DNA from viral RNA.

Also: HIV reverse transcriptase · viral reverse transcriptase

Specific bacterial siderophore Water-soluble compound of low molecular weight and extreme affinity constant that is secreted by the bacteria to bind free ferric iron in the host's body tissues.

Also: high affinity bacterial iron chelator · soluble iron-binding ligand

High ferric affinity siderophore Low molecular mass chelating molecule specifically secreted by bacteria under severe conditions of limitation of ferric iron cations.

Also: ferric iron capture siderophore · microbial iron-binding ligand

Metabolic syntrophy Obligatory mutualistic association in which the degradation of an organic substrate by one microorganism depends on the assimilation of metabolites by another.

Also: mutualistic cross-feeding · syntrophic cellular interaction

Enterotoxin superantigen Microbial toxigenic protein that induces massive and nonspecific polyclonal activation of T lymphocytes through simultaneous cross-binding to MHC-II molecules and TCR receptors.

Also: soluble microbial superantigen · polyclonal T lymphocyte activator

Bacterial toxin superantigen Bacterial protein that short-circuits normal immunological specificity by inducing massive polyclonal activation of T lymphocytes through nonspecific binding.

Also: massive cytokine storm inducer

Rapidly replicating tachyzoite Replicative cellular stage with accelerated lytic cycle manifested by Toxoplasma gondii during the active and acute phase of initial tissue dissemination.

Also: fast Toxoplasma trophozoite · tissue tachyzoite

Herpesvirus integument Dense cellular space of a protein nature that is located between the icosahedral nucleocapsid and the external lipid envelope of viruses of the Herpesviridae family.

Also: herpesvirus protein matrix · tegument of viral particles

Extreme thermophile Microorganism that has stable enzymatic and structural adaptations to develop at high temperatures, typically located in ranges between 45 °C and 80 °C.

Also: thermophilic microorganism · lover of high temperatures

Schaeffer-Fulton spore stain Chromatic method that uses hot malachite green dye to stain endospores and contrast safranin for bacterial vegetative cells.

Also: differential staining of bacterial spores · spore malachite green staining

Albert's volutin stain Cytological staining used specifically to reveal metachromatic polyphosphate granules present in bacilli such as Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Also: Albert stain for metachromatic granules · diphtheria volutin stain

Albert's metachromatic stain for bacteria Differential colorimetric method designed to highlight volutin polyphosphate corpuscles in the cytoplasm of Corynebacterium.

Also: volutin Albert stain · coloration of Albert's volutin granules

Inactivated immunogenic toxoid Vaccine antigen derived from an exotoxin whose portion responsible for biological toxicity has been completely eliminated, retaining its original protective immunogenicity.

Also: toxin inactivated · vaccine immunogenic anthoxin

Specialized genetic transduction Horizontal transfer of specific bacterial genes adjacent to the integration site of a prophage, which are incorrectly cleaved together with phage DNA during the induction of the lytic cycle.

Also: selective phage transduction · directed transfer by tempered phages

Generalized genetic transduction Mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in which random fragments of the degraded bacterial chromosome are mistakenly packaged inside a phage capsid during a lytic infection.

Also: nonspecific phage-mediated transfer

Active bacterial transformation Process of active uptake of free exogenous DNA fragments present in the extracellular environment and their subsequent homologous integration into the bacterial chromosome of competent cells.

Also: incorporation of free exogenous DNA · capture of environmental genetic material

Bacterial DNA transposon Double-stranded genetic sequence with the capacity for autonomous molecular transposition mediated by a transposase enzyme to insert into new chromosomal loci.

Also: prokaryotic DNA transposon · bacterial transposable element

Infective metacyclic trypomastigote Mature, mobile and fusiform terminal phase of Trypanosoma cruzi eliminated in excrement of the insect vector, specialized to actively invade wounds or exposed mucous membranes.

Also: infective excretory trypomastigote · infecting metacyclic biological form

Motile parasitic trophozoite Metabolically active, mobile and asexually multiplying physiological stage of eukaryotic parasitic protozoa that actively captures nutrients from the human host.

Also: mobile vegetative phase of protozoa · active protozoan trophozoite

Specific viral tropism Selective capacity or biological affinity that a given virus manifests to preferentially infect certain cell lineages or specific tissue tissues of the host.

Also: cellular tropism of viruses · viral tissue specificity

Hematophagous biological vector Arthropod that actively ingests pathogens from the blood of a vertebrate host, allowing the development of necessary phases of its cycle in its body before transmitting it.

Also: active biological vector · hematophagous biological transmitter

Mechanical fomite vector Organism that physically transports a pathogen on the nonspecific external surface of its body or oral apparatus without development or biological replication.

Also: passive mechanical vector · microbial contamination transporter

Mature virion Complete, infectious and structurally intact viral particle that is located in the extracellular space and has the ability to transfer its genome to new susceptible cells.

Also: complete infectious viral particle · extracellular mature virus

Pathogenic viroid Infectious subviral agent consisting exclusively of a short, circular molecule of highly folded single-stranded RNA, devoid of a protective protein capsid.

Also: free RNA subviral pathogen · plant viroid

Extreme xerophile Organism adapted to complete its biological development and multiply in substrates with very low free water activity or in dried substrates.

Also: strictly xerotolerant microorganism · xerophilic fungus of dry substrates

Zygospore of zygomycetes Large volume sexual spore provided with a thick and rough wall that originates after the fertilization of two biologically compatible gametangia.

Also: fungal sexual zygospore · zygomycete resistance spore

Microbiology and infections

Other glossary specialties