Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
C
Coxsackievirus B3
Coxsackievirus B3 is a member of the coxsackievirus B group within Enterovirus B of the Picornaviridae family. It is a non enveloped, icosahedral virus about...
Coxsackievirus B5
Coxsackievirus B5 is a member of the Enterovirus B species and one of six serotypes that make up the group B coxsackieviruses. This positive-sense,...
Coxsackievirus B6
Coxsackievirus B6 is the sixth serotype of the group B coxsackieviruses in the Enterovirus B species. This positive-sense RNA virus is non-enveloped with an...
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus
Crimean‑Congo hemorrhagic fever virus CCHFV is a member of the genus Orthonairovirus family Nairoviridae and is the aetiological agent of Crimean‑Congo...
CRISPR
CRISPR stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. It refers to segments of repetitive DNA found in bacteria and archaea that,...
Cross-Immunity
Cross-immunity is the ability of an immune response to one pathogen to provide partial or complete protection against a second, related pathogen due to shared...
Culture
A culture is a population of microorganisms or cells grown under controlled conditions in a nutrient medium. Explanation In microbiology and cell biology,...
Culture Medium
A culture medium is a nutrient solution or solid preparation that provides the environment and nutrients required for microorganisms or cells to grow....
Cyclovirus VS5700009
Cyclovirus VS5700009 is a small, non‑enveloped single‑stranded DNA virus belonging to the family Circoviridae, genus Cyclovirus. This species was first...
Cytokine Storm
A cytokine storm is a severe inflammatory reaction in which the immune system releases large amounts of pro‑inflammatory cytokines, leading to systemic tissue...
Cytokines
Cytokines are small proteins secreted by immune cells and many non‑immune cells that act as intercellular messengers. They bind to specific receptors on target...
Cytolytic Virus
A cytolytic virus is one that replicates within a host cell and ultimately causes cell lysis, releasing progeny virions and destroying the infected cell....
Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV‑5)
Cytomegalovirus CMV, HHV‑5 is a large enveloped double‑stranded DNA virus of the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily. It infects a wide range of cell types and...
Cytomegalovirus (CMV/HHV‑5)
Cytomegalovirus CMV, also known as human herpesvirus 5, is a large enveloped double‑stranded DNA virus belonging to the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily. It infects...
Cytopathic Effect (CPE)
The cytopathic effect is the observable degenerative changes in host cells following infection by a virus or other intracellular pathogen. These changes can...
Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies
Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies are discrete, often proteinaceous or viral-derived structures found within the cytoplasm of a cell, typically not bound by a...
Cytotoxic T-cell
Cytotoxic T cells, also called CD8+ T cells, are immune lymphocytes that recognize antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex class I molecules and...
D
Decomposers
Decomposers are organisms that break down dead plant and animal matter into simpler compounds, returning nutrients to the soil and water. They include...
Decontamination
Decontamination is a process or treatment that renders a device, instrument, work surface or environment safe to handle by reducing or removing harmful...
Defective Virus
A defective virus is a viral particle that lacks essential genetic information necessary for successful replication in host cells and therefore requires a...
Dengue virus
The dengue virus is a mosquito-borne virus of the family Flaviviridae, genus Orthoflavivirus. It consists of a single positive-sense RNA genome inside an...
Dengue Virus 1
Dengue virus type 1 DENV 1 is one of four antigenically distinct serotypes of dengue virus, a mosquito‑borne Flavivirus that causes dengue fever and severe...
Dengue Virus 2
Dengue virus type 2 DENV-2 is one of four antigenically distinct serotypes of dengue virus, an enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus that...
Dengue Virus 3
Dengue virus type 3 DENV-3 is one of the four serotypes of dengue virus, an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the genus Flavivirus that...