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Microbial nutrition, interactions, pathogenesis
key terms
14
Microbiology
Undergraduate 4
04/26/2010

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Term
primary pathogen
Definition
organisms that cause disease in HEALTHY hosts through direct interaction
Term
opportunistic pathogen
Definition
organisms within host's normal microbiota; cause disease if host immune system is compromised
Term
virulence
Definition
degree to which a microbe can cause disease in a host
Term
virulence factor
Definition
bacterial product that contributes to its virulence
Term
infectivity
Definition
ability to initially infect host cell
Term
invasiveness
Definition
spread of pathogens to nearby cells
Term
pathogenic potential
Definition
degree to which pathogens can damage host
Term
conjugation
Definition
transfer of genetic material between bacteria through direct cell contact
Term
transduction
Definition
DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus (bacteriophages)
Term
transformation
Definition
genetic alteration of a bacterial cell resulting from the uptake, incorporation, and expression of naked DNA from environment
Term
pathogenicity islands
Definition
large sections of bacterial DNA that carry virulence genes acquired by horizontal gene transfer
Term
toxigenicity
Definition
ability of a pathogen to produce endo/exotoxins
Term
exotoxin
Definition
soluble, heat-labile proteins released into surroundings; very immunogenic
Term
immunogenicity
Definition
ability of a pathogen to trigger a hose immune response
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