Microbiology of Vibrio and Related Bacteria

A bacterium that can cause cholera, a serious diarrheal disease.

A type of culture medium that is selective for Vibrio species. It contains bile salts and thiosulfate, which inhibit the growth of other bacteria.

A specific type of water that is used to enrich the growth of Vibrio species. It is alkaline and has a pH of 8.4.

A type of transmission in which the pathogen moves from the feces of an infected person to another individual through contaminated water or food.

An environment that is salty or has a high salt concentration. Certain bacteria thrive in this kind of environment.

A type of bacterial infection often acquired through animal bites or scratches.

A component of the outer membrane of certain bacteria, released upon bacterial lysis, and contributing to inflammation.

The capsule surrounding some bacteria prevents immune system cells from engulfing and destroying the bacteria.

An infection that spreads from the initial site to the bloodstream.

The spread of an infection from the original site to distant locations within the body.

The study of the occurrence, distribution, and determinants of health and disease in populations.

How a pathogen spreads from one person to another.

Bacteria found naturally in a particular environment.

The bacterium responsible for causing gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. It is a curved, microaerophilic, Gram-negative rod and colonizes the stomach lining.

The primary habitat for H. pylori is within the human gastric mucosa.

H. pylori's ability to move helps it navigate the stomach lining.

H. pylori doesn't invade the stomach tissue but sits on the surface.

The mode of transmission for H. pylori is still not fully understood. Current theories include oral-oral, fecal-oral, and mother-to-child spread.

H. pylori uses various factors and structures like fimbriae, FHA, pertactin, and BrkA, to stick to the stomach lining.

The Pertussis toxin produced by Bordetella pertussis is a potent toxin that can cause significant damage to the host.

Bordetella pertussis causes Whooping Cough, a serious respiratory illness.

A staining technique used to visualize bacteria under a microscope. It differentiates bacteria based on their cell wall structure.

A type of culture medium used to grow Haemophilus species in a lab setting. This medium provides essential nutrients like hemin (X factor) and NAD (V factor) that allow for the growth of these bacteria.

A type of culture medium that is often incorporated with sheep blood. It allows Haemophilus species to thrive, as the blood provides the V factor needed (NAD). This medium helps in observing a phenomenon known as "satelliting", where Haemophilus species grow in a ring around colonies of Staphylococcus species that are able to produce V factor.

A specific type of Haemophilus species known for its ability to cause chancroid, a sexually transmitted infection.

A type of medium used to grow Haemophilus ducreyi in a lab setting. It is a chocolate agar (which contains heated blood) that is supplemented with Isovitalex, a mixture of essential growth factors.

A method of detecting Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) by identifying its capsular polysaccharide antigen, which is a specific molecule found on the surface of the bacteria.

A method of detecting Haemophilus infection by directly observing the bacteria under a microscope using a Gram stain.

A test used to determine the presence of specific enzymes in Haemophilus bacteria. It is a way to indirectly identify the bacteria based on the products produced by these specific enzymes.

A type of bacterial culture medium that is specifically designed to grow Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium responsible for whooping cough.

A bacterial culture medium used to grow and isolate anaerobic bacteria (those that cannot survive in oxygen).

A type of bacterial culture medium that is selective for the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis. This agar typically includes a combination of antibiotics that inhibit the growth of most other bacteria.

The ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify individuals who have the disease.

A type of bacterial culture medium that is selective for the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes.

A bacterial culture technique that involves culturing bacteria on a solid medium and then using a microscope to visualize the colonies of bacteria generated.

A method to identify and analyze DNA fragments in a sample, often used for diagnosing infections.

A bacterium that causes tetanus, characterized by muscle spasms and potentially fatal respiratory failure.

A substance that disrupts nerve impulses, specifically causing muscle spasms in tetanus.

Tiny particles of infectious material released into the air, often by coughing, sneezing, or speaking.

The primary source from which an infectious agent can be transmitted to a susceptible host.

The process by which an organism, like a bacterium, enters the body and establishes an infection.

A toxin produced by certain bacteria that acts on the nervous system, causing paralysis.

The ingestion of a preformed toxin produced by bacteria, leading to food poisoning and paralysis.