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deodorizer

(Encyclopedia)deodorizer or deodorant, substance used to absorb or eliminate offensive odors. Disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, and chlorine compounds eliminate odors caused by microorganisms. Adso...

Monera

(Encyclopedia)Monera, taxonomic kingdom that comprises the prokaryotes (bacteria and cyanobacteria). Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms that lack a membrane-bound nucleus and usually lack membrane-bound organe...

colitis

(Encyclopedia)colitis, inflammation of the colon, or large intestine. The term “colitis” may be used to refer to any of a number of disorders involving the colon. Symptoms include diarrhea (often with blood and...

Leeuwenhoek, Antony van

(Encyclopedia)Leeuwenhoek, Antony van änˈtōnē vän lāˈvənho͞okˌ [key], 1632–1723, Dutch student of natural history and maker of microscopes, b. Delft. His use of lenses in examining cloth as a draper's a...

Dujardin, Félix

(Encyclopedia)Dujardin, Félix fālēksˈ düzhärdăNˈ [key], 1801–60, French zoologist. He did valuable research on bacteria and on the Infusoria. In 1835 he described protoplasm in unicellular animals, naming...

cystitis

(Encyclopedia)cystitis sĭstīˈtĭs [key], common acute or chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder. The disease occurs primarily in young women and frequently results from bacterial invasion of the urethra fro...

probiotic

(Encyclopedia)probiotic, live microorganism administered to a host with the intention of providing a health benefit, or a food, supplement, or treatment containing such microorganisms. Many of the microbes found in...

nitrogen cycle

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Nitrogen cycle nitrogen cycle, the continuous flow of nitrogen through the biosphere by the processes of nitrogen fixation, ammonification (decay), nitrification, and denitrification. Nitrogen...

chloramphenicol

(Encyclopedia)chloramphenicol klōrˌămfĕnˈəkŏlˌ [key], antibiotic effective against a wide range of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (see Gram's stain). It was originally isolated from a species of S...

sore throat, streptococcal

(Encyclopedia)sore throat, streptococcal strĕpˌtəkŏkˈəl [key], infection and inflammation of the pharynx caused by certain streptococcal bacteria. These organisms are known as hemolytic streptococci because t...