Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
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Agar
Agar is a gel‑forming polysaccharide extracted primarily from the cell walls of red seaweeds in the genera Gelidium and Gracilaria. It consists of a mixture of...
Agar Diffusion
Agar diffusion refers to a class of microbiological assays in which a substance placed on or in a layer of solid agar diffuses into the medium and affects the...
Agar Medium
An agar medium is any nutrient solution solidified with agar and used to cultivate microorganisms on a solid surface. By adding agar to a broth containing...
Agarose Gel
An agarose gel is a semi‑solid matrix formed by dissolving agarose, a purified polysaccharide derived from certain red algae, in buffer and allowing it to...
Agglutination Test
An agglutination test is an immunological assay in which antibodies bind to particulate antigens and cause them to clump together. The reaction is visible to...
Aichi virus
Aichi virus also called Aichivirus A or human Aichi virus is a non‑enveloped positive-sense single‑stranded RNA virus in the genus Kobuvirus and family...
Airborne Pathogens
Airborne pathogens are microorganisms transmitted through the air via aerosols, droplets or dust, causing respiratory and systemic infections. Explanation...
Airborne Pathogens
Airborne pathogens are microorganisms that can be transmitted through the air by small particles, droplets or dust and cause disease when inhaled or deposited...
Alkaliphile
An alkaliphile is an organism that thrives in alkaline environments and has an optimal growth pH above 9. These microbes have adapted cellular machinery to...
Allele
An allele is a specific version of a gene found at a particular chromosomal locus. Different alleles can encode slightly different sequences of a protein or...
Amphitrichous
A bacterium with a single flagellum at each of two opposite ends Explanation Amphitrichous bacteria are characterized by having one whip‑like flagellum at...
Anaerobes
Anaerobes are organisms that grow and reproduce without molecular oxygen and may even be injured or killed by its presence. They obtain energy through...
Anaerobic Chamber
An anaerobic chamber is a sealed workstation that maintains an oxygen‑free environment to allow manipulation and cultivation of obligate anaerobes or handling...
Anaerobic Jar
An anaerobic jar is a rigid, sealable container used to create an oxygen‑free atmosphere for the incubation of microbial cultures on plates or in small tubes....
Andes Virus
Andes virus is a New World hantavirus belonging to the genus Orthohantavirus family Hantaviridae and is an important cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome HPS...
Antagonistic
Interaction in which one organism or substance inhibits another Explanation In biology the term antagonistic is used to describe interactions where one...
Anthelmintic
Drugs that expel or kill parasitic worms in a host Explanation Anthelmintics are pharmaceuticals used to treat infections by parasitic worms, including...
Antibiogram
Periodic summary of local bacterial susceptibilities to antibiotics Explanation An antibiogram is a cumulative report of antimicrobial susceptibility test...
Antibiotic Resistance
Resistance to antibiotics occurs when bacteria evolve the ability to survive and grow despite exposure to an antibiotic that previously inhibited or killed...
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or stopping them from multiplying and are ineffective against...
Antibody
An antibody, or immunoglobulin, is a Y‑shaped protein produced by B cells of the immune system. Antibodies bind specifically to antigens to neutralise them or...
Antifungal Resistance
Antifungal resistance occurs when pathogenic fungi can grow or survive despite exposure to an antifungal medicine that would normally inhibit or kill them....
Antifungals
Medications that eliminate or suppress pathogenic fungi Explanation Antifungals antimycotics are a category of antimicrobials that are designed to kill or...
Antigen
An antigen is any substance that the immune system recognizes as foreign non‑self and that can trigger an immune response. Antigens are often proteins or...