[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fxLN3MUwXCdr5RPjwZYIDpOj8CHyjOmngWTgoKXPtZbg":3,"$fP04R4S1p8RQoaACgQ1IBWDBeEmC1zYcrRx5r3C0tdNw":32,"$f3Ft0rKFJHppdzE-vuveecxx1BUcg9iOlMLtyzf_MJDg":47},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28],{"title":5,"slug":6,"path":7},"About Microbeonline.com","about-microbeonline-com","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002F",{"title":9,"slug":10,"path":11},"About Me","about-me","\u002Fabout-microbeonline-com\u002Fabout-me\u002F",{"title":13,"slug":14,"path":15},"Advertise with Us","advertise-us","\u002Fadvertise-us\u002F",{"title":17,"slug":18,"path":19},"Privacy Policy","privacy-policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{"title":21,"slug":22,"path":23},"Abbreviations","abbreviations","\u002Fabbreviations\u002F",{"title":25,"slug":26,"path":27},"Microbes","microbes","\u002Fmicrobes\u002F",{"title":29,"slug":30,"path":31},"Books","recommended-books","\u002Frecommended-books\u002F",{"type":33,"data":34},"blog",{"slug":35,"title":36,"description":36,"seoTitle":37,"seoDescription":37,"author":38,"createdDate":39,"lastUpdatedDate":40,"draft":41,"category":42,"image":37,"body":43,"faq":44,"tags":45,"related":46},"microbial-jargons-and-their-meaning","Microbial Jargons and Their Meaning",null,"Acharya Tankeshwar","2021-10-15","2025-12-29",false,"general-microbiology","When the laboratory instructor said *“take the test organism and stab into the butt”*, most of the students were stunned! It was that practical of Microbiology, which taught many students the importance of jargon.\n\nIn our medical school, we use an integrated approach in teaching-learning. In a single problem-based question, students may be answering questions related to ‘introduction to clinical science’, ‘community health’, ‘anatomy’, ‘physiology’, ‘microbiology’, and other basic science subjects. A few years back, I was checking the answer sheet of first-year students of our undergraduate medical school (like pre-med students in western countries), reading that answer, I couldn’t hold my laughter. Later, I realized that all my colleagues were staring at me in shock!\n\n> The question and the answer was as follows:Qs “What are four types of media used in Microbiology?” Answer was: Papers, TV, Billboard, and Internet\n\nThe above examples clearly illustrate that scientific terminology used in microbiology or microbial jargon may invite miscommunication. Jargon refers to technical vocabulary that is specific to a particular profession or field. Many times, the technical term might be completely unfamiliar to a non-practitioner outside of the field or may have a different meaning depending on its context. When we know which word falls outside of a lay audience’s vocabulary, we may use an appropriate word or simple word to make our communication with them clear, concise, and understandable.\n\nHere, I have listed the “Microbial Jargon Worksheet” published by American Society for Microbiology. I hope this will help.\n\n## Measurements\u002FQuantification\n\n| Word | Public Meaning | Microbial Meaning |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Colony | A group of individuals or things with common characteristics or interests situated in close association | Millions of individual microbes growing together as spherical dots on agar plates and visible by the naked eye. |\n| Isolate | An individual socially withdrawn or removed from society | An individual, population, strain, or culture obtained by or resulting from selection or separation |\n| Ladder | A structure for climbing up or down that consists essentially of two long sidepieces joined at intervals by crosspieces on which one may step. | Tool used to mark the molecular weight of unknown samples in nucleic acid electrophoresis |\n| Sequence | A continuous or connected series | The order of nucleotides within a nucleic acid |\n\n## Methods\u002FTools\n\n![](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fsupport-bacteria-culture.jpg)\u003Ctable style=\"min-width: 75px;\">\n\u003Ccolgroup>\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003Ccol style=\"min-width: 25px;\">\u003C\u002Fcolgroup>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Word\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Public Meaning\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Microbial Meaning\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Bath\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A washing or soaking (as in water or steam)of all or part of the body\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Container filled with liquid (usually water) that is heated or cooled to a controlled temperature, providing a gentle method of maintaining sample temperature\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Culture\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Acquaintance with and taste in fine arts, humanities, and broad aspects of science\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>The act of growing microbes in the lab for research\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Fish\u002FFISH\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>An aquatic animal\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Fluorescent (or fluorescence) in situ hybridization\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Gram\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A metric unit of mass equal to 1\u002F1000 kilogram\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Frequently-used stain that distinguishes different types of bacteria based on their cell wall properties\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Hood\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A flexible covering for the head and neck, or a protective covering for the head and face\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Structure that provides an aseptic work area while allowing the containment of infectious splashes or aerosols generated by many microbiological procedures\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Loop\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A curving or doubling of a line so as to form a closed or partly open curve within itself through which another line can be passed or into which a hook may be hooked\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A tool, usually made of platinum or nichrome wire, in which the tip forms a small loop that is used to smear, streak, or take an inoculum from, a culture of microorganisms\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Media\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Those who work in fields such as newspapers, radio, or television and report on news\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Water and nutrients that support microbial growth\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>PDA\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Public Display of Affection\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Peptone-dextrose agar or photodiode array\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Plate\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A shallow, usually circular vessel from which food is eaten or served\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A circular flat dish with a lid that is used for growing bacteria on a bed of nutrient jelly\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Streak\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>To run naked through a public place\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Method used to isolate pure microbial cultures by dragging an innoculated instrument along the surface of an agar dish\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Tip(s)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A piece of advice or expert or authoritative information\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Device that attaches to a pipettor, used to transfer liquid between vessels using suction and pressure\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Well\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>A hole made in the earth to reach a natural deposit (as of water, oil, or gas)\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\u003Cp>Indentation arranged in a regular matrix pattern on a plastic plate, used to grow and\u002F or analyze samples in parallel\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\n## Organism\n\n![Staph (Microbial Jargon)](https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fblogs\u002Fmeet-the-hospital-staph.png)Figure: Staph (Microbial Jargon)\n\n| Word | Public Meaning | Microbial Meaning |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Be serious\u002FB. cereus | A way to say “stop joking” or tell someone to stop acting weird | Toxin-producing gram-positive bacteria that causes intestinal illness |\n| Bugs\\* | Any members of the order Hemiptera, OR any of various small arthropods (such as a beetle or spider) resembling these insects | A colloquial term for microbes |\n| Mold | The frame on or around which an object is constructed | Fungi which grow as semi-microscopic organisms, and whose mycelium tends to form a loose meshwork rather than a dense tissue |\n| Staff\u002Fstaph | Individuals chiefly responsible for the internal operations of an institution or business | Short for the bacterial genus “Staphylococcus” which is commonly found on human skin |\n\n## Processes\u002FMechanisms\n\n| Word | Public Meaning | Microbial Meaning |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Clone | One that appears to be a copy of an original form | Produce many copies of a gene by repeated cycles of replication |\n| Conjugation | Schematic arrangement of the inflectional forms of a verb, typically based on tense and person | A form of genetic exchange between bacteria without multiplying or reproducing |\n| Expression | Facial aspect or vocal intonation as indicative of feeling | Production of an observable phenotype by a gene, usually by directing synthesis of a protein |\n\n## Structures\u002FTraits\n\n| Word | Public Meaning | Microbial Meaning |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Aerobic | A system of physical conditioning involving exercises strenuously performed so as to cause marked temporary increase in respiration and heart rate | Requiring oxygen for survival |\n| Cell | A single room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person | The smallest unit that can live on its own and that makes up all living organisms and the tissues of the body |\n| Envelope | A flat, usually paper container (as for a letter) | External viral membrane derived from infected host cell |\n| Lawn | Ground that is covered with grass and is kept mowed | A uniform and uninterrupted layer of bacterial growth, in which individual colonies cannot be observed |\n| Resistant | Exerting force in opposition | Having developed the ability to employ defense strategies to resist the effects of antibiotics and antimicrobials |\n\n**References and further readings**\n\n- [‘Microbial Jargon Worksheet’ American Society for Microbiology](https:\u002F\u002Fasm.org\u002FArticles\u002FPolicy\u002F2021\u002FOctober-21\u002FHow-to-Eliminate-Jargon-From-Science-Communication)",[],[],[],[48,54,61,66,70,74,79,84,88,92],{"slug":49,"name":38,"description":50,"image":51,"body":52,"postCount":53},"acharya-tankeshwar","Editor-in-chief","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Ftankeshwar-acharya-author-microbeonline.jpg","***Tankeshwar Acharya, MSc (Medical Microbiology)***\n\n*Tankeshwar Acharya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS), Nepal, where he has been teaching and practicing clinical microbiology for over 14 years. He is the founder of Microbe Online, one of the leading free microbiology education resources on the web, covering bacteriology, mycology, parasitology, immunology, and clinical laboratory diagnostics written from direct experience in both the classroom and the diagnostic laboratory.*",433,{"slug":55,"name":56,"description":57,"image":58,"body":59,"postCount":60},"ashma-shrestha","Ashma Shrestha","SEO Copywriter and Science Communicator\nKathmandu, Nepal","https:\u002F\u002Fassets.microbeonline.com\u002Fauthors\u002Fashma-shrestha.png","Ashma Shrestha holds a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology from the Institute of Science and Technology (IOST), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, where she developed a strong foundation in virology, molecular biology, and diagnostic microbiology.\n\nShe now works as an SEO Copywriter at Resolution Digital, where she combines her scientific training with research-driven content strategy. She is certified in Google Analytics and Google Business Profile (GBP), and brings a data-informed approach to science communication writing content that is not only accurate but structured to reach and serve the students who need it most.\n\nAt microbeonline, Ashma contributes articles primarily in virology and molecular biology, areas she finds most compelling for their mechanistic depth and their growing clinical relevance. Her writing reflects the same standard the site is built on: factual rigor, clear explanation of the *why* behind microbiology concepts, and content that helps students move from memorization to genuine understanding.\n\nShe is passionate about making complex microbiological concepts accessible without sacrificing accuracy; a skill that sits at the intersection of her scientific training and her professional work in content and SEO.",81,{"slug":62,"name":63,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":65},"sushmita-baniya","Sushmita Baniya","Author \u002F Contributor",32,{"slug":67,"name":68,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":69},"samikshya-acharya","Samikshya Acharya",20,{"slug":71,"name":72,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":73},"alisha-tripathi","Alisha Tripathi",6,{"slug":75,"name":76,"description":77,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":78},"aastha-shrestha","Aastha Shrestha"," Author \u002F Contributor",9,{"slug":80,"name":81,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":83},"guest-author","Guest Author","Guest Author \u002F Contributor",2,{"slug":85,"name":86,"description":64,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":87},"srijana-khanal","Srijana Khanal",18,{"slug":89,"name":90,"description":82,"image":37,"body":37,"postCount":91},"dr-poonam-acharya","Dr. Poonam Acharya",1,{"slug":93,"name":94,"description":64,"image":37,"body":95,"postCount":96},"nisha-rijal","Nisha Rijal","**Nisha Rijal** is a microbiologist and quality assurance specialist. She served for nearly 12 years as a microbiologist at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Nepal's national reference laboratory, and continues to work as a consultant microbiologist in international public health organization. ",51]