Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
Y
Yersinia pestis
Yersinia pestis is a Gram‑negative, non‑motile coccobacillus within the family Enterobacteriaceae and is the causative agent of plague. It primarily infects...
YM Agar
YM Agar, short for Yeast and Mold Agar, is a nutrient-rich culture medium formulated to support the growth of yeasts and filamentous fungi. It contains...
Z
Zaire Ebolavirus
Zaire ebolavirus is the ebolavirus species associated with the most severe outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in humans and nonhuman primates. Explanation Zaire...
Zika virus
Zika virus is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Flavivirus. It was first isolated in 1947 from a sentinel rhesus...
Zika Virus
Zika virus is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the genus Flavivirus. It is transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus...
ZN-stain
The Ziehl–Neelsen ZN stain is a differential staining technique for detecting acid‑fast bacteria. It exploits the high lipid content and mycolic acids in the...
Zoonoses
Zoonoses are infectious diseases that are naturally transmissible between vertebrate animals and humans. These infections can persist in animal reservoir...
Zoospore
A zoospore is a motile, asexually produced spore that uses one or more flagella to swim in aquatic or moist environments. Unlike non-motile spores that rely on...
Zygomycetes
Zygomycetes is a historical informal name for a group of filamentous fungi that produce sexual spores called zygospores. In classical taxonomy these organisms...