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A taxonomic rank below Domain, further categorizing organisms. Examples in Eukarya include Animalia (e.g., humans), Plantae (e.g., mosses), Fungi (e.g., yeasts), Protista (e.g., amoebae).

Photosynthetic, oxygen-producing bacteria formerly known as 'blue-green algae'. Examples: Spirulina, Anabaena.

Organisms that use light as an energy source and carbon dioxide as a carbon source. Examples include cyanobacteria and green sulfur bacteria.

A rank below Phylum, organizing organisms into more defined groups. Examples: Bacilli (e.g., Bacillus subtilis), Gammaproteobacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), Eurotiomycetes (fungi, e.g., Aspergillus).

Microorganisms that require oxygen but at lower levels than are found in the atmosphere. Examples: Campylobacter jejuni, Helicobacter pylori.

Bacteria that can cause disease in humans or other hosts. Examples: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Vibrio cholerae.

A group of bacteria that are resistant to decolorization by acids during staining. Examples include Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae.

A group of Archaea that produce methane as a byproduct of their metabolism. Examples: Methanobacterium, Methanococcus.

In genetics, a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to artificially carry foreign genetic material into another cell. Examples: Plasmids, viruses, artificial chromosomes.

A virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. Examples: Phage T4, lambda phage.

A genus of bacteria that lacks a cell wall and thus has unique characteristics and clinical implications. Examples: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma genitalium.

The highest taxonomic rank in the hierarchy, representing the largest differences among organisms. Examples: Bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli), Archaea (e.g., Methanobrevibacter smithii), Eukarya (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

Bacteria that benefit from their host without causing harm. Examples: many gut microbiota, such as Bifidobacterium species.

A mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria where genetic material is transferred via cell-to-cell contact. Examples: F-plasmid transfer in E. coli.

A group of bacteria that are characterized by their spiral shape and motility. Examples: Treponema pallidum (causes syphilis), Borrelia burgdorferi (causes Lyme disease).

Microorganisms that cannot grow in the presence of oxygen. Examples: Clostridium botulinum, Bacteroides fragilis.

A domain of single-celled microorganisms, often found in extreme environments. Examples: Halobacteria (halophiles), Thermoproteus (thermophiles).

The most specific rank, defining a group of organisms that can interbreed. Examples: Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast), Clostridium botulinum.

Microorganisms that require oxygen for growth. Examples: Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Microorganisms that can grow with or without oxygen. Examples: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus.

An organism that thrives at relatively high temperatures. Examples: Thermus aquaticus (source of Taq polymerase), Pyrococcus furiosus.

A rank below Kingdom, used to classify organisms into broad groups. Examples: Firmicutes (e.g., Lactobacillus), Proteobacteria (e.g., E. coli), Ascomycota (fungi, e.g., Penicillium).

A small, circular, double-stranded DNA molecule that is distinct from a cell's chromosomal DNA. Often used in genetic engineering. Examples: pBR322, Ti plasmid.

Bacteria with a thick peptidoglycan layer that stains violet in Gram staining. Examples: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes.

The study of fungi, including yeasts and molds. Examples: Candida albicans (yeast), Rhizopus stolonifer (bread mold).

Bacteria that have a mutually beneficial relationship with their host. Examples: Rhizobium species in legume root nodules, Symbiodinium in coral reefs.

A process by which the genetic information of an organism is changed, resulting in a mutation. This can occur naturally or be induced for research.

A rank below Family, encompassing species that share common features. Examples: Streptococcus (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae), Salmonella (e.g., Salmonella typhi), Aspergillus (fungi, e.g., Aspergillus niger).

Bacteria with a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane, staining red or pink in Gram staining. Examples: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A resistant, dormant structure formed by some bacteria under stressful conditions. Examples: Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium difficile.

The gradual change in the antigen composition of a pathogen, such as a virus, which can lead to evasion of immune detection. Common in influenza viruses.

A genetic variant or subtype of a microorganism. Examples: E. coli O157:H7, Streptococcus pyogenes M1T1, Bacillus anthracis Ames.

A complex community of microorganisms adhering to a surface, enclosed in a matrix. Examples: Dental plaque (various bacteria), Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

A rank below Order, categorizing closely related organisms. Examples: Lactobacillaceae (e.g., Lactobacillus), Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., Escherichia), Trichocomaceae (fungi, e.g., Aspergillus).

Eukaryotic organisms, mainly single-celled, that are neither plants nor animals nor fungi. Examples: Amoeba, Paramecium, algae like Chlamydomonas.

Cell-to-cell communication by which bacteria and other microorganisms regulate gene expression in response to cell density. Examples include Vibrio fischeri in the Hawaiian bobtail squid.

The transfer of genetic material between organisms other than by the vertical transmission from parent to offspring. Examples: Transformation, transduction, conjugation.

A genetic alteration of a cell resulting from the direct uptake and incorporation of exogenous genetic material. Examples: Streptococcus pneumoniae transformation.

Microorganisms that thrive in physically or geochemically extreme conditions that are detrimental to most life on Earth. Examples: Thermophiles, halophiles, acidophiles.

A rank below Class, narrowing down the classification. Examples: Lactobacillales (e.g., Streptococcus), Enterobacteriales (e.g., Salmonella), Eurotiales (fungi, e.g., Penicillium).

Microorganisms that use inorganic compounds as an energy source and carbon dioxide as a carbon source. Examples: Nitrosomonas, Sulfolobus.

A method of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria in which genes are transferred using viruses (bacteriophages). Examples: Phage-mediated gene transfer in E. coli.