Ames

Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics

Antimicrobial Agent

Antimicrobial Drug Resistance

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST)

Bacillus

Bacteria

Bioburden

CFU

Chromogenic media

CLSI

Coccus

Conjugation

Endospore

Enteric Bacteria

EUCAST

Flagellum

Fungi

Gram Stain

Membrane filtration

MIC

Microbiology

Microorganism

Morphology

OPKA

Pathogen

Penicillins

Plasmid

SBA

Spirillum

Spirochaete

SRID – Single Radial Immunodiffusion

Sterility test

Vaccine

Vibrio

Virus

Definition of Virus

Virus - A particle which is capable of independent metabolism and reproduction within a living cell. Outside its host cell, a virus is completely inert.

A mature virus (a viron) ranges in size from 20 to 600 nm in diameter. It consists of a core of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat (Capsid). Some bear an outer envelope consisting of proteins and lipids (enveloped viruses).

Inside its host cell the virus initiates the synthesis of viral proteins and undergoes replication. The new virons are released once the host cell disintegrates.

Viruses are parasites of animals, plants and some bacteria (bacteriophages).

Antiviral drugs are effective against certain viral diseases and vaccines provide protection against others.

Common animal viruses include: HIV (AIDS), Influenza (Flu) and Herpes simplex (Herpes).