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Vaccine Science: |
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AAbscess: A focal collection of pus resulting from necrosis of tissue, sometimes observed at the site of an injection. Acellular vaccine: A vaccine containing partial cellular material as opposed to complete cells. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS): A medical condition where the immune system cannot function properly and protect the body from disease. As a result, the body cannot defend itself against infections (like pneumonia). Aids is caused by the Human Immunodifiency Virus (HIV). This virus is spread through direct contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected individual. High-risk activities include unprotected sexual intercourse and intravenous drug use (sharing needles). There is no cure for AIDS; however, research efforts are on going to develop a vaccine. Active immunity: the production of antibodies against a specific disease by the immune system. Active immunity can be acquired in two ways, either by contracting the disease or through vaccination. Active immunity is usually permanent, meaning an individual is protected from the disease for the duration of their lives. Acute: A short-term, intense health effect. Adaptive immunity: Known as immune components of the immune system that are acquired after birth; the response of antigen-specific lymphocytes to antigen, including the development of immunological memory. Also referred to as learned or acquired immunity. Adhesion molecule: A molecule that mediates the binding of one cell to other cells or to extracellular matrix proteins. Integrins, selectins, members of the immunoglobulin superclass family, and CD44 and related proteins are all adhesion molecules important in the operation of the immune system (see CAM's and ICAM). Adjuvant: A substance sometimes included in a vaccine formulation to enhance or modify the immune-stimulating properties of a vaccine. Adverse events: undesirable experiences occurring after immunization that may or may not be related to the vaccine. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) - Adjuvant (s): 1.A substance added to a drug product formulation that affects the action of the active ingredient in a predictable way In immunology, a vehicle used to enhance antigenicity; e.g. a suspension of minerals (alum, aluminum hydroxide or phosphate) on which antigen is adsorbed; or water-in-oil emulsion in which antigen solution is emulsified in mineral oil (Freunds incomplete adjuvant) sometimes with the inclusion of killed mycobacteria (Freunds complete a.) to further enhance antigenicity. Alleles: Any one of a series of two or more different genes that may occupy the same locus on a specific chromosome. As autosomal chromosomes are paired each autosomal gene is represented twice in normal somatic cells. If the same a. occupies this a. If the a.'s are different, the individual or cell is heterozygous for both a.'s. Allergy: A condition in which the body has an exaggerated response to a substance (e.g. food or drug). Also known as hypersensitivity. Allo-: Other; differing from the normal or usual. Alloantigen: An antigen that occurs in some but not other members of the same species. Isoantigen is sometimes used in this sense. Alpha virus genus: one of the genera of the family togaviridae that was formerly classified as part of the group A arboviruses and includes viruses that cause eastern equine, western equine and Venezuelan encephalitis. Alum precipitate: An adjuvant. Amino acid: One of the building blocks of proteins. Anaphylaxis: An immediate and severe allergic reaction to a substance (e.g. food or drugs). Symptoms of anaphylaxis include breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness and a drop in blood pressure. This condition can be fatal and requires immediate medical attention. Anopheles: The genus of mosquito that transmits malaria. Antibodies: An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production. Antibody-mediated immunity: Immunity that results from the activity of antibodies in blood and lymphoid tissue (also called humoral immunity.). Antibody isotypes: Also known as immunoglobulin isotypes. (See immunoglobulin) Different immunoglobulin isotypes are called IgM, IgD, IgA, and IgE. Antigen: Any substance, which can generate the formation of a specific antibody (a protein created by the immune system to protect the body). For vaccines, the term antigen refers to a vaccine component that induces protection for one single disease (e.g., the measles antigen induces protection against measles). Antigen processing: Before the immune system can respond to an antigen it must be able to recognize the antigen. It is able to do so through antigen processing. Macrophages are the major antigen processing cells others include B-lymphocytes. Antigen-presenting cell (APC): Antigen-processing cells ingest antigen and chop it into small fragments that are then packaged within the major histocompatibility complex molecules and shuttled to the surface of the cell membrane for presentation. Professional antigen presenting cells are dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. Antigens: substances that activate the immune system. Any substances that as a result of coming into contact with appropriate cells, induces a state of sensitivity and/or immune responsiveness after a latent period, and which results in a demonstrable way with antibodies with antibodies and/or immune cells of the sensitized subject. Anti-idiotype: Antibodies to the variable regions of the antibody-binding site. Anti-idiotypes contain the internal image of the tumor antigen and are capable of inducing antibody responses to the original antigen. Antimicrobial agent: Any substance of natural, synthetic or semi-synthetic origin which at low concentrations kills or inhibits the growth of micro-organisms but causes little or no host damage. Antimicrobial class: Antimicrobials with a related molecular structure, often with a similar mode of action. Variations in the properties of antimicrobials within a class often arise as a result of the presence of different side chains of the molecule, which confer different patterns of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior on the molecule. Antimicrobial growth promoter: Antimicrobial agents used for the purpose of increasing daily weight gain or feed efficiency (feed-weight gain ratio) pf fppd-producing animals. Antimicrobial resistance: Antimicrobial resistance is the result of microbes changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents to cure or prevent infections. Antimicrobial resistance genes: Genes in microorganisms, which confer resistance to antimicrobials. These are often located on mobile genetic elements thereby enabling transmission from resistant to susceptible strains. Antitoxin: Antibodies capable of destroying microorganisms including viruses and bacteria. Apheresed: apheresis- Infusion of a patient's own blood from which certain cellular or fluid elements have been removed. [G.aphaeresis, withdrawal] Apoptosis: single deletion of scattered cells by fragmentation into membrane bound particles that are phagocytosed by other cells; believed to be due to programmed cell death. [G. a falling or dropping off, fr. Apo, off + ptosis, a falling] Arm: A group of participants in a clinical trial, all of who receive the same treatment, intervention or placebo. The other arm(s) receive(s) a different treatment. Arthralgia: Joint pain. Arthritis: A medical condition characterized by inflammation of the joints, which results in pain and difficulty moving. Ascites: Abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Association: The degree to which the occurrence of two variables or events is linked. Association describes a situation where the likelihood of one event occurring depends on the presence of another event or variable. However, an association between two variables does not necessarily imply a cause and effect relationship. The term association and relationship are often used interchangeably. See causal and temporal association. Asymptomatic infection: The presence of an infection without symptoms. Also known as inapparent or subclinical infection. Attenuated: Weakened or treated in such a way as to decrease the ability of a microorganism (such as parasite or virus) to cause infection or disease. Attenuated strain: A strain of microorganism that has been altered in virulence to exhibit diminished virulence. Attenuated vaccine: A vaccine in which live viruses are weakened through chemical or physical processes in order to produce an immune response without causing the severe effects of the disease. Attenuated vaccines currently licensed in the United States include measles, mumps, rubella, polio, yellow fever and varicella. Also known as a live vaccine. Attenuation: Diminution of the virulence in a strain of an organism, obtained through selection of variants that occur naturally or through experimental means. Auto-disable syringe: A specifically modified disposable syringe with a fixed needle, which is automatically disabled by the plunger blocking after a single use. Autism: A chronic developmental disorder usually diagnosed between 18 and 30 months of age. Symptoms include problems with social interaction and communication as well as repetitive interests and activities. At this time, the cause of autism is not known although many experts believe it to be a genetically based disorder that occurs before birth. Autoimmunity: The condition in which one's own tissues are subject to deleterious effects of the immune system, as in auto allergy and in autoimmune disease; specific humoral or cell mediated immune response against the body's own tissues. Autologous: Occurring naturally and normally in a certain type of tissue or in a specific structure of the body. Sometimes used to denote a neoplasm derived from cells that occur normally at that site. e.g. squamous cell carcinoma in the upper esophagus. Avidity: The binding strength of an antibody for an antigen. [L. avidus, eager greedy fr. aveo, to crave]
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