microbes

Invisible life forms

Microbes are microscopic organisms—bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other life forms too small to see without magnification.

The term is informal shorthand for microorganisms, common in discussions of health, disease, and biology: Your gut contains trillions of microbes, antimicrobial soap kills harmful microbes.

Not all microbes cause illness; many are essential to digestion, soil health, and other processes.

taxonomy

bacteria

Nucleus-free single-celled organisms

archaeaThird domain of life
protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers

algae · prokaryotes · eukaryotes · microbiota · strains · cultures · species · genus · phylum · domain

pathogens

infection

Pathogen invasion causing illness

diseaseDisorder impairing normal function
germsMicroscopic disease agents
virusMicroscopic infectious agent

bacteria · contagion · epidemic · pandemic · outbreak · plague · fever · inflammation · illness · sickness

beneficial

probiotics

Live microorganisms aiding digestion

fermentationMicrobial sugar conversion
lactobacillusAcid-producing beneficial bacterium
bifidobacteriaBeneficial gut microorganisms

yogurt · kombucha · kefir · kimchi · sauerkraut · bioremediation · decomposers · composting · biodegradation · biofertilizers

ecology

ecosystem

Interconnected organisms and surroundings

decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
biofilmAdhesive layer of microorganisms
soilGround matter for planting

biogeochemical · habitat · detritus · sediment · aquatic · terrestrial · extremophiles · wetlands · phytoplankton · cyanobacteria

microscopic

invisible

Cannot be seen

microscopeInstrument for viewing minute objects
colonyDependent territorial settlement
slideSmooth continuous movement

staining · agar · magnification · cellular · single-celled · nanoscale · submicroscopic · minuscule · infinitesimal · specimen

microbes

bacteria

infection

probiotics

ecosystem

invisible

microbes

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family