Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
O
Opportunistic Pathogen
An opportunistic pathogen is a microorganism that ordinarily does not cause disease in a healthy host but can become pathogenic when the host’s defense...
Opsonization
Opsonization is the process by which particles such as bacteria are coated with host molecules that promote their recognition and ingestion by phagocytic...
Optimum Temperature
Optimum temperature is the temperature at which a particular organism or enzymatic system exhibits its highest growth rate or catalytic activity. Explanation...
Organotroph
An organotroph is an organism that obtains reducing power by oxidizing organic compounds, using these molecules as electron donors in energy metabolism....
Oropouche Virus
Oropouche virus is an arbovirus of genus Orthobunyavirus family Peribunyaviridae in the Simbu serogroup. It is mainly transmitted to people by Culicoides...
Oxidase Test
The oxidase test is a rapid biochemical assay that detects the presence of cytochrome c oxidase in bacteria by observing the oxidation of a chromogenic...
Oxidation
Oxidation is a chemical process in which an atom, ion or molecule loses electrons or increases its oxidation state, often accompanied by the removal of...
P
Parasite
A parasite is an organism that depends on another living host for nutrients or shelter and usually causes some degree of harm to the host in the process....
Parasitic
The term parasitic describes organisms or behaviors associated with living as a parasite, deriving nutrients or other benefits from a host organism while...
Parasitism
Parasitism is a biological relationship in which one organism, the parasite, lives on or within another organism, the host, from which it obtains nutrients or...
Parasitology
Parasitology is the scientific discipline concerned with the biology of parasites, the organisms they infect and the interactions that arise from these...
Paratope
A paratope is the antigen-binding site of an antibody, formed by specific amino acid residues in the variable regions of the heavy and light chains. It...
Paratope
A paratope is the part of an antibody or B cell receptor that physically interacts with an antigen. It resides in the variable domains of the immunoglobulin’s...
Paratope
A paratope is the specific region on an antibody molecule that binds to an antigenic determinant, or epitope. Located within the variable domains of the heavy...
Parvovirus 4 (PARV4)
Parvovirus 4 PARV4 is a single‑stranded DNA virus classified in the family Parvoviridae genus Tetraparvovirus. It was first identified in 2005 in the plasma of...
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a controlled heat treatment used to reduce numbers of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food and beverages and to extend shelf life...
Pathogen
A pathogen is a biological agent capable of producing disease in a host organism. Pathogens include viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, helminths and prions....
Pathogenesis
Pathogenesis describes the biological mechanisms that lead to the development of disease. It encompasses the sequence of events from the initial interaction...
Pathogenic
Pathogenic refers to an organism, agent or process capable of causing disease in a host. A pathogenic microbe has the ability to invade, damage or disrupt...
Pathogenicity
Pathogenicity is the inherent ability of a microorganism or agent to cause disease in a host. It denotes whether a species or strain can enter, survive and...
Pathovar
A pathovar is a bacterial strain or group of strains within a species distinguished by its host range or the specific disease symptoms it causes. The term is...
PCR
PCR stands for polymerase chain reaction, a laboratory method used to make many copies of a specific DNA sequence. By cycling through different temperatures...
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)
Polymerase chain reaction PCR refers to an in vitro enzymatic method used to amplify a targeted segment of DNA. In a controlled series of temperature changes,...
Penicillium
Penicillium is a genus of filamentous fungi in the phylum Ascomycota characterized by brush‑like conidiophores that give rise to chains of asexual spores....