| bacteraemia | <microbiology> The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the bloodstream. Origin: Gr. Bakterion, haima = blood (11 Jan 1998) |
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| bacteremia | <microbiology> The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the bloodstream. Origin: Gr. Bakterion, haima = blood (11 Jan 1998) |
| bacteri- | See: bacterio-. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacteria | <microbiology> One of the two major classes of prokaryotic organism (the other being the Cyanobacteria). Bacteria are small (linear dimensions of around 1 m), noncompartmentalised, with circular DNA and ribosomes of 70S. Protein synthesis differs from that of eukaryotes and many antibacterial antibiotics interfere with protein synthesis, but do not affect the infected host. Recently bacteria have been subdivided into Eubacteria and Archaebacteria, although some would consider the Archaebacteria to be a third kingdom, distinct from both Eubacteria and Eukaryotes. The Eubacteria can be further subdivided on the basis of their staining using Gram stain. Since the difference between gram-positive and gram-negative depends upon a fundamental difference in cell wall structure it is therefore more soundly based than classification on gross morphology alone (into cocci, bacilli, etc.). (02 Jan 1998) |
| bacteria-free stage of bacterial endocarditis | Endocarditis described prior to the antibiotic era and presumably due to spontaneous healing of the bacterial vegetations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacteriaemia | <microbiology> The presence of viable bacteria circulating in the bloodstream. Origin: Gr. Bakterion, haima = blood (11 Jan 1998) |
| bacterial | <microbiology> Bacteria are group of micro-organisms that are a single cell approximately 1 micron in transverse diameter. Some bacteria cause disease in man, requiring treatment with an antibiotic. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bacterial adhesion | Physicochemical property of fimbriated (fimbriae, bacterial) and non-fimbriated bacteria of attaching to cells, tissue, and nonbiological surfaces. It is a factor in bacterial colonization and pathogenicity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bacterial allergy | The concept that the atopic kind of type I allergic reactions may be caused by bacterial allergens, the delayed type of skin test, so-called because of its early association with bacterial antigens (e.g., the tuberculin test). (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacterial antagonism | The inhibition of one bacterium by products of another. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacterial capsule | A layer of slime of variable composition which covers the surface of some bacteria; capsulated cells of pathogenic bacteria are usually more virulent than cells without capsules because the former are more resistant to phagocytic action. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacterial capsules | An envelope of loose gel surrounding a bacterial cell which is associated with the virulence of pathogenic bacteria. Some capsules have a well-defined border, whereas others form a slime layer that trails off into the medium. most capsules consist of relatively simple polysaccharides but there are some bacteria whose capsules are made of polypeptides. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bacterial cast | A cast in the urine composed of bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bacterial chemotaxis | <microbiology> The response of bacteria to gradients of attractants or repellents. In a gradient of attractant the probability of deviating from a smooth forward path is reduced if the bacterium is moving up gradient. Since the opposite is true if moving down gradient, the effect is to bias displacement towards the source of attractant. Strictly should perhaps be considered a klinokinesis with adaptation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| bacterial conjugation | <molecular biology> The process of transferring a certain plasmid of DNA known as the f plasmid (or sex plasmid) from bacteria individuals who have it (known as males) to bacteria individuals who do not already have it (known as females) by way of direct contact between the bacteria individuals called a conjugation bridge. Once transfer is completed, the female individual becomes a male individual and both parties have a copy of the F plasmid. (09 Oct 1997) |