germ, fungus, bacteria
菌 centers on microscopic organisms that grow and spread, especially those associated with decay or disease: germs, bacteria, and fungi.
菌 combines 艹 (plant) with 囷 (granary), suggesting something plant-like that grows in enclosed, stored conditions—fitting for fungi and bacteria. The phonetic role of 囷 is uncertain.
The plant top 艹 over 囷 (a granary with grain 禾 inside walls 囗) shows fungus and bacteria growing on stored grain in a damp granary.
For キン, imagine a keen scientist peering at germs under a microscope: keen -> キン, and the germs are 菌.
—
fungus
bacterium; bacteria; germ
sterilization; sterilisation; disinfection; pasteurization
lactic-acid bacilli
antibacterial; antimicrobial
Escherichia coli (E. coli)
pathogenic bacteria; germ; pathogen
germ; germs; bacteria; bug
microorganisms; saprophyte; saprophytic bacteria
fungus; fungi
sterilization; sterilisation
coccus
sterilised; sterilized; sterile; pasteurised; pasteurized; germ-free; aseptic
fungal filament; hypha; hyphae
pathogenic bacteria; germ; pathogen
salmonella
bacillus
(bacterial) strain
yeast cell
carrying a disease-causing agent; carrying a pathogen