 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Agar: A gelatin like material obtained from seaweed and used to prepare culture media on which microorganisms are grown. Also used for electrophoresis of DNA and RNA.
Allergen: causes a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction.
Bacteria: Microscopic organisms living in soil, water, organic matter, plants and animals. These prokaryotic organisms don't have a distinct nucleus, are single-celled, and lack photosynthetic abilities.
Bioaerosol: An aerosol comprising particles of biological
origin/activity or is itself a living organism, which may affect living
things causing infection, allergies, toxicity, or other. Particle sizes
may range from aerodynamic diameters of ca. 0.5 to 100 microns. Examples
of bioaerosols are fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, pollen, animal dander,
insect emanations, microbial endotoxins, and human skin scales.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colony A number of individual cells or organisms of a given species growing on the surface of a solid medium that usually can be seen with the naked eye.
Conidiophore: complex structure that some types of mold spores grow out from. It is somewhat analogous to a flower in plants where the spores would be analogous to seeds. Differentiation between Aspergillus and Penicillium requires the presence of their conidiophores.
Contaminant: something that is present without injuring or benefiting the host; they do not cause infection
Dander: Tiny scales of animal skin.
Debris: Non- biological particulate such as dirt or soot.
Endotoxins: Harmful substances (toxins) that are produced by many gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxins are characterized for being contained within the cell wall that produce them, or are integral constituents of cellular structure and are not released until the cell disintegrates
Exotoxin: Diffusible toxins produced by certain gram-positive bacteria (and occasionally gram-positive bacteria). Exotoxins are present in the filtrates of growing cultures in which no appreciable autolysis has occurred.
Hyphae The principal element of the growing or vegetative form of a mold (filamentous fungi), characterized by branching tube-like growth
Hyphal-like fragments (high-full): filamentous, branched structures with cell walls. Hyphae are somewhat analogous to roots or stems in plants whereas the spores would be analogous to the seeds. (A conidiophore would be somewhat analogous to the flower.)
Immunocompromised: Individuals whose immune systems are weakened and susceptible to opportunistic pathogens, including but not limited to those with AIDS, certain cancers, the very old, the very young, or those undergoing immunosuppressive drug therapy.
Morphology: identification chararcteristics based only on form and appearance such as "clear and round." When a better identification is not possible, morphology can sometimes place a spore into a certain broader category while excluding it from others. For example, "Brown, round" tends to point to the Myxomycete / Smut / Periconia group of spores while excluding it from various other important groups like Stachybotrys and Aspergillus/Penicillium. In the same respect, Aspergillus and Penicillium spores generally have the same morphology and can only be distinguished by the morphology of the conidiophore (when it is present).
Mycosis: disease caused by fungus.
Non-sporulating colonies: colonies that do not produce spores
Opportunistic Pathogen: causes infections only when the weak or injured condition of the person gives the agent opportunity to infect; rarely infect patients who are otherwise healthy
Pathogen: disease causing
Skin: skin cells are a source of food for dust mites (allergen)
Toxin: A poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into cells, tissues or the entire target organism.
Toxigenic: Organism that is able to produce a toxin, or toxins.
VOC :"Volatile Organic Compound", any organic chemical
with a low boiling point that becomes gaseous at ambient temperatures.
This designation is not a reflection or indication of human health effects.
