Microbiology

A high-yield STEP 1 microbiology lesson on Gram-positive cocci that walks the boards' lab algorithm (morphology → catalase → coagulase/hemolysis → confirmatory tests) and maps each Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species to its virulence factors, classic vignette buzzwords, diseases, and treatment. Includes a full comparison table, vignette drills, a toxin deep-dive, post-strep sequelae, and only genuine, standard mnemonics (no fabricated acronyms).

A board-focused tour of the Gram-negative rods and Enterobacteriaceae: how to sort them by lactose fermentation, oxidase, urease, and H₂S, then the key toxins, buzzword vignettes, and treatments for each classic enteric plus Pseudomonas and the curved rods. Built for STEP 1 pattern recognition.

A board-focused tour of the gram-positive rods — the spore-formers Clostridium (anaerobic) and Bacillus (aerobic) plus Listeria and Corynebacterium — built around identifying lab clues, the single exotoxins that drive each disease, and the classic vignette buzzwords with first-line treatment. Includes a toxin-mechanism block, real micro mnemonics, and a master comparison table.

A high-yield Step 1 tour of the boards' favorite wall-less, intracellular, and spiral organisms — pairing each bug's identifying lab feature and classic vignette buzzword with the disease it causes and the correct drug. Covers the atypical-pneumonia group (Mycoplasma, Chlamydia pneumoniae/psittaci, Legionella, Coxiella) and the BLT spirochetes (Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira).

A board-focused tour of the seven human DNA virus families (HHAPPPy), pairing each with its structural rules, cytopathic buzzwords, diseases, and antivirals. Anchored by high-yield herpesvirus and non-herpesvirus vignettes plus a comparison table.

A high-yield STEP 1 walkthrough of the RNA viruses, organized by the classification rules boards test (sense, segmentation, naked vs. enveloped, RdRp) and then by clinical system, with buzzword vignettes, classic mnemonics, and comparison tables covering families and the RNA hepatitis viruses.

A high-yield board-style comparison of hepatitis viruses A–E covering transmission, genome/structure, chronicity and cancer risk, HBV serology interpretation, classic vignette buzzwords, extrahepatic disease, and current treatment. Emphasizes the enteric vowels (A/E) vs. blood-borne B/C/D framework, HBV/HCV as the oncogenic pair, HDV's dependence on HBV, and HEV's danger in pregnancy.

A high-yield Step 1 tour of the medically important fungi — systemic dimorphic, opportunistic, and cutaneous/subcutaneous — pairing each organism's identifying morphology and lab clues with its classic vignette buzzwords and board-tested treatment, capped by an antifungal mechanism map. Corrected from the draft: coccidioidal meningitis is treated with high-dose fluconazole (not amphotericin B), and Pneumocystis uses a cholesterol membrane (so azoles/ampho B fail, hence TMP-SMX).