Microbiology Glossary
Browse our comprehensive collection of 777 microbiology terms and definitions.
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Viral Tropism
Viral tropism is the specificity of a virus for particular host species, tissues, or cell types, determined by factors such as receptor binding and...
Viral Tropism
Viral tropism refers to the preference of a virus to infect and replicate in particular cell types, tissues or host species. This specificity is governed by...
Viroid
A viroid is a small, circular, single-stranded RNA molecule that infects plants and lacks a protein coat. Viroids do not encode proteins and rely entirely on...
Viroid
Viroids are the smallest known infectious agents and consist of circular single-stranded RNA molecules that infect plants. They lack a protein coat and do not...
Virology
Virology is the branch of microbiology that studies viruses and similar infectious agents, focusing on their structure, classification, genetics, replication,...
Virulence
Virulence describes the degree of pathogenicity of a microorganism and reflects its ability to cause disease in a host. It is influenced by the organism's...
Virulence Factor
Virulence factors are specific proteins, surface structures and secreted molecules that contribute to a microorganism's ability to infect and damage a host....
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent composed of genetic material DNA or RNA encased in a protective protein shell called a capsid and, in many cases, a lipid...
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Waterborne Pathogens
Waterborne pathogens are microorganisms transmitted through contaminated water that cause disease in humans and animals. Explanation Waterborne disease...
Waterborne Pathogens
Waterborne pathogens are bacteria, viruses, protozoa or parasites that are transmitted through contaminated water and can cause infectious diseases in humans...
West Nile virus
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that infects birds, humans and other mammals, causing febrile illness and occasionally severe neurological...
West Nile Virus
West Nile virus WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the genus Flavivirus. It is transmitted primarily by Culex mosquitoes in a...
Western Blot
Western blotting is an immunoassay technique used to detect specific proteins in a complex mixture. It combines protein separation by size and specific...
Western Equine Encephalitis Virus (WEEV)
Western Equine Encephalitis virus WEEV is a mosquito‑borne alphavirus that causes encephalitis in horses and humans. It circulates primarily in western North...
WHO
WHO stands for the World Health Organization, the United Nations agency tasked with directing and coordinating international public health. Mission and...
Widal Test
The Widal test is a serological agglutination assay used to detect antibodies against the O and H antigens of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and, to a...
Winogradsky Column
A Winogradsky Column is a transparent column filled with pond sediment, water and nutrients that develops stratified microbial communities over time,...
Wright’s Stain
Wright’s stain is a Romanowsky-type mixture of acidic and basic dyes used to stain peripheral blood smears and bone marrow aspirates. The stain contains eosin...
WU Polyomavirus (WUPyV)
WU Polyomavirus WUPyV is a small non‑enveloped DNA virus in the family Polyomaviridae. It was discovered in 2007 in samples of human respiratory secretions...
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Xanthophyta
Xanthophyta, commonly called yellow‑green algae, is a group of photosynthetic stramenopiles characterized by their yellow‑green coloration. These organisms...
XDR-TB
XDR‑TB extensively drug‑resistant tuberculosis describes strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, plus any...
Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) Agar
Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate XLD Agar is a selective and differential culture medium used to isolate Salmonella and Shigella species from stool, food and...
Y
Yeast
Yeasts are unicellular fungi that grow as solitary, oval to spherical cells typically measuring 3–10 µm in diameter, reproducing asexually by budding or binary fission.
Yellow Fever Virus
Yellow fever virus is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the genus Flavivirus. It is transmitted by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes and...