Microbiology, 2021

1184 E • Glossary
confocal microscope a scanning laser
microscope that uses fluorescent dyes and
excitation lasers to create threedimensional
images
conidia asexual fungal spores not
enclosed in a sac; produced in a chain at
the end of specialized hyphae called
conidiophores
conjugate vaccine a vaccine consisting of
a polysaccharide antigen conjugated to a
protein to enhance immune response to
the polysaccharide; conjugate vaccines are
important for young children who do not
respond well to polysaccharide antigens
conjugated protein protein carrying a
nonpolypeptidic portion
conjugation mechanism of horizontal
gene transfer in bacteria in which DNA is
directly transferred from one bacterial cell
to another by a conjugation pilus
conjugation pilus (sex pilus) hollow tube
composed of protein encoded by the
conjugation plasmid that brings two
bacterial cells into contact with each other
for the process of conjugation
conjunctiva the mucous membranes
covering the eyeball and inner eyelid
conjunctivitis inflammation of the
conjunctiva, the mucous membrane
covering the eye and inside of the eyelid
constitutively expressed describes genes
that are transcribed and translated
continuously to provide the cell with
constant intermediate levels of the protein
products
contact dermatitis inflammation of the
skin resulting from a type IV
hypersensitivity to an allergen or irritant
contact see exposure
contact transmission movement of a
pathogen between hosts due to contact
between the two; may be direct or indirect
contagious easily spread from person to
person
continuous cell line derived from
transformed cells or tumors, these cells
are often able to be subcultured many
times, or, in the case of immortal cell lines,
grown indefinitely
continuous common source spread a
mode of disease transmission in which
every infection originates from the same
source and that source produces
infections for longer than one incubation
period
contractile vacuoles organelles found in
some cells, especially in some protists,
that take up water and then move the
water out of the cell for osmoregulatory
purposes (i.e., to maintain an appropriate
salt and water balance)
contrast visible differences between parts
of a microscopic specimen
convalescence stage the final stage of a
whooping cough infection, marked by a
chronic cough
Coombs’ reagent antiserum containing
antihuman immunoglobulins used to
facilitate hemagglutination by crosslinking
the human antibodies attached to
red blood cells
cooperative interactions interactions
between populations in which both benefit
cortex tightly packed layer of fungal
filaments at the outer surface of a lichen;
foliose lichens have a second cortex layer
beneath the medulla
counterstain a secondary stain that adds
contrasting color to cells from which the
primary stain has been washed out by a
decolorizing agent
crenation shriveling of a cell
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease form of
transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
found in humans; typically a fatal disease
crisis phase point at which a fever breaks,
reaching a peak before the hypothalamus
resets back to normal body temperature
critical item object that must be sterile
because it will be used inside the body,
often penetrating sterile tissues or the
bloodstream
cross-match in the major cross-match,
donor red blood cells are checked for
agglutination using recipient serum; in the
minor cross-match, donor serum is
checked for agglutinizing antibodies
against recipient red blood cells
cross-presentation a mechanism by
which dendritic cells process antigens for
MHC I presentation to CD8 T cells through
phagocytosis of the pathogen (which
would normally lead to MHC II
presentation)
cross-resistance when a single resistance
mechanism confers resistance to multiple
antimicrobial drugs
cross-sectional study a type of
observational study in which
measurements are made on cases, both
affected and unaffected, at one point in
time and the measurements analyzed to
uncover associations with the disease
state
crustose lichens lichens that are tightly
attached to the substrate, giving them a
crusty appearance
cryptococcosis fungal pneumonia caused
by the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus
neoformans commonly found in bird
droppings
cryptosporidiosis intestinal infection
caused by Cryptosporidium parvum or C.
hominis
culture density the number of cells per
volume of broth
culture medium combination of
compounds in solution that supports
growth
cutaneous mycosis any fungal infection
that affects the surface of the skin, hair, or
nails
cyanobacteria phototrophic, chlorophyllcontaining
bacteria that produce large
amounts of gaseous oxygen
cyclic AMP (cAMP) intracellular signaling
molecule made through the action of
adenylyl cyclase from ATP when glucose
levels are low, with the ability to bind to a
catabolite activator protein to allow it to
bind to regulatory regions and activate the
transcription of operons encoding
enzymes for metabolism of alternative
substrates
cyclic photophosphorylation pathway
used in photosynthetic organisms when
the cell’s need for ATP outweighs that for
NADPH, thus bypassing NADPH
production
cyclosporiasis intestinal infection caused
by Cyclospora cayetanensis
cystic echinococcosis hydatid disease, an
infection caused by the tapeworm
Echinococcus granulosus that can cause
cyst formation
cysticerci larval form of a tapeworm
cystitis inflammation of the bladder
cysts microbial cells surrounded by a
protective outer covering; some microbial
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