Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
E
Eukaryote
Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells possess a true membrane-bound nucleus containing the genetic material and a complex array of membrane-bound organelles....
European Bat Lyssavirus 1
European bat lyssavirus 1 is a species of lyssavirus that circulates in European bats and causes fatal rabies-like encephalitis in bats and occasionally in...
European Bat Lyssavirus 2
European bat lyssavirus 2 is a lyssavirus species maintained mainly in Daubenton's bats and pond bats in Europe and capable of causing fatal rabies-like...
Exotoxin
Exotoxins are soluble proteins produced by bacteria and secreted into the extracellular environment, where they exert specific and often potent effects on host...
Experimental Epidemiology
Experimental epidemiology is the branch of epidemiology that involves deliberate manipulation of exposures or interventions to study their effect on the...
Extreme Halophiles
Extreme halophiles are microorganisms that require very high concentrations of salt, typically between 15 and 30 percent sodium chloride, for growth and...
Extremophiles
Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in environmental conditions considered hostile or lethal to most life, such as extremes of temperature, pH, salinity,...
F
FACS
Fluorescence-activated cell sorting separates and collects individual cells from a mixed population based on light scattering and fluorescent labeling measured...
FACS (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting)
Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting is an advanced flow cytometry technique that uses fluorescent markers and electrostatic deflection to isolate specific...
Facultative Aerobe
Facultative aerobes prefer to generate energy by aerobic respiration when oxygen is available but are capable of switching to anaerobic pathways or...
Facultative Anaerobe
A facultative anaerobe can grow in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments, using aerobic respiration when oxygen is available and switching to anaerobic...
Facultative Parasite
A facultative parasite is an organism that can complete its life cycle without a host but may exploit a host and adopt a parasitic lifestyle under certain...
Facultative Psychrophile
Facultative psychrophiles are microorganisms that prefer moderate temperatures but retain the ability to grow at low temperatures close to freezing. Biology...
Familial Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (fCJD)
Familial Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease fCJD is a hereditary prion disorder caused by pathogenic mutations in the prion protein gene PRNP. It follows an autosomal...
Fastidious
In microbiology, fastidious organisms have complex nutritional requirements and often require enriched growth media to thrive. Nutritional requirements and...
Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI)
Fatal familial insomnia FFI is a rare hereditary prion disease characterised by progressive insomnia, autonomic dysfunction and neurodegeneration leading to...
Fermentation
Fermentation is an anaerobic metabolic process in which organisms convert organic substrates, such as carbohydrates, into energy and by-products like acids,...
Filamentous
In microbiology, filamentous describes organisms that grow as elongated, thread-like cells or hyphae forming chains or networks rather than discrete single...
Fimbriae
Fimbriae are short, hair-like appendages on many bacteria that facilitate adhesion to surfaces, host cells and other microbes. Structure and function Fimbriae...
Flagella
Flagella are long, whip-like structures that protrude from the cell surface and enable motility by rotating or undulating. Structure, types and motion...
Flagellates
Flagellates are single-celled organisms that propel themselves using one or more whip-like flagella. Classification and characteristics The term flagellate...
Flow Chart (Diagnostic Algorithm)
A flow chart, or diagnostic algorithm, is a graphical representation of a step-by-step process used in diagnostic medicine. It uses boxes to represent actions...
Flow Cytometry
Flow cytometry is a laser-based technique that analyzes physical and fluorescent characteristics of cells or particles suspended in a fluid stream as they pass...
Fluorescence Microscope
A fluorescence microscope is an optical microscope equipped to excite specific fluorophores and detect their emitted light, allowing visualization of labelled...