Category: M

Further Moraxella species associated with conjuctivitis, but not requiring blood or serum for growth. The title derives from the ability of the organism to liquefy gelatin at 22°C. The colony pits Loeffler medium as does M. lacunata.  

Species associated with conjunctivitis; requires serum or blood agar for growth. Colonies on Loeffler’s serum medium produce pits (lacunae) on the slope surface. Previously known as Morax – Axenfeld bacillus.  

Genus within the bacteriological family of the Brucellaceae, consisting of Gram-negative aerobic non-motile rods, some 2μm x 1μm, in pairs end-to-end. Catalase and oxidase positive, no action on sugars. Growth aided by moist media which include blood or serum. A genus of gram-negative coccobacilli in the family Neisseriaceae; most are nonpathogenic inhabitants of mammalian mucous…

Modification of the antibiotic sensitivity testing of mycobacteria in which the resistance ratio is determined not in relation to the control organism Myco. tuberculosis H.37Rv, but to the modal sensitivity of a battery of known sensitive wild strains.  

Class which includes the orders of the Virales and the Rickettsiales.  

Living creatures of microscopical size and relatively simple structure. A term embracing viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. A very small, single-celled living organism that cannot usually be seen by the naked eye. The most important micro-organisms in medicine are those that cause disease. This ‘pathogenic’ group, however, forms only a small proportion of the enormous…

Commensal urinary organism with the power of converting urea to ammonium carbonate.  

Normally commensal micrococcus, occasionally pathogenic to man. Pathogenic to mouse. The cocci are seen in plates of 4 (tetrads), and are slightly larger than staphylococci; capsules are seen in tissue smears.  

Bacteria which require oxygen for growth, but at a lower concentration than that present in atmospheric air. The requisite condition may be achieved by placing the cultures in a tightly closed tin with a burning night-light; this will be extinguished as the oxygen level falls.  

Shaking machine for the mechanical disruption of bacteria, with release of their substance, by contact with glass beads.