Unit Vocab Flashcard (Microbiology)

Front

What is an antibiotic?

Back

A medicine used to save lives because it destroys harmful bacteria and cures infections.

Front

What is a pathogen?

Back

An organism that causes disease.

Front

What is a vaccine?

Back

A substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity.

Front

What is microbiology?

Back

A branch of biology dealing especially with microscopic forms of life.

Front

What is an epidemic?

Back

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

Front

What is the role of bacteria in the environment?

Back

Bacteria play essential roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and as part of the food web.

Front

What is the difference between a virus and a bacterium?

Back

Viruses are smaller than bacteria and require a host cell to replicate, while bacteria can reproduce independently.

Front

What is an infectious disease?

Back

A disease caused by pathogens that can be transmitted from one individual to another.

Front

What is immunity?

Back

The ability of an organism to resist infection or disease, often developed through exposure to pathogens or vaccination.

Front

What is a microbiome?

Back

The collection of microorganisms living in a particular environment, including the human body.