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Vaccine Science: |
Glossary
A | B-D | E-G | H-K | L-N | O-P | Q-S | T-Z O-oma: a tumor. Oncology: The field of medicine concerning the diagnosis, treatment and study of cancer. Oocyst: A parasite stage within the mosquito, produced by the union of male and female gametes. Optic: Type of antimicrobial agent made from a mold or a bacterium that kills, or slows the growth of other microbes, specifically bacteria. Examples include penicillin and streptomycin. Optic neuritis: A medical condition where vision deteriorates rapidly over hours or days. One or both eyes may be affected. This condition results for the demyelination of optic nerves. In most cases, the cause of optic neuritis is unknown. Patients may regain their vision or be left with permanent impairment. Also see demyelinating disorders. Orchitis: A complication of mumps infection occurring in males (who are beyond puberty). Symptoms begin 7-10 days after onset of mumps and include inflammation of the testicles, headache, nausea, vomiting, pain and fever. Most patients recover but in rare cases sterility occurs. Organism: Any living thing. Organisms include humans, animals, plants, bacteria, protozoa and fungi. -osis: A condition or a process, especially one that is abnormal. Otitis Media: A viral or bacterial infection that leads to inflammation of the middle ear. This condition usually occurs along with an upper respiratory infection. Symptoms include earache, high fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In addition, hearing loss, facial paralysis and meningitis may result. Outbreak: Sudden appearance of a disease in a specific geographic area (e.g. neighborhood or community) or population (e.g. adolescents). PPandemic: An epidemic occurring over a very large area. Pap smear: vaginal or cervical cells obtained for cytological study. Parasite: Any organism that lives in or on another organism without benefiting the host organism; commonly refers to pathogens , most commonly in reference to protozoans and helminthes. Parenteral: Administered intravenously or by injection. For example, medications or vaccines may be administered by injection into the fatty layer immediately below the skin (subcutaneous), or into the muscle (intramuscular). Medications, but not vaccines, can also be administered into a vein (intravenously). Passive immunity: Protection against disease through antibodies produced by another human being or animal. Passive immunity is effective, but protection is generally limited and diminishes over time (usually a few weeks or months). For example, maternal antibodies are passed to the infant prior to birth. These antibodies temporarily protect the baby for the first 4-6 months of life. Pathogens: Bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that can cause disease. Pathogenesis: The origin and development of disease. More specifically, it's the way a microbe (bacteria, virus, etc.) causes disease in its host. patho-, -pathy: Abnormality. PCR: polymerase chain reaction is a technique for amplifying a specific sequence in DNA by repeated cycles of synthesis driven by pairs of reciprocally oriented primers. peri-: Around. pharmaco-: Pertaining to drugs. Pharmacokinetics: The movement and rate of movement of drugs within a biological system, particularly uptake distribution, binding, elimination and biotransformation. Pharmacodynamics: The behavior (e.g. quick, slow, short term, long term, etc.) of an antimicrobial at its receptor site (i.e. where it initiates its effect). Phase I clinical trial: An experiment designed to evaluate adverse reactions, optimal dose, and best route of administration. Phase II clinical trial: A scientifically controlled study carried out usually to test the effectiveness of a new treatment. Phase III clinical trial: A pilot efficacy study aimed at generating statistically relevant data. Phenotype: Manifestation of genotype or the combined manifestation of several different genotypes. Placebo: A substance or treatment that has no effect on human beings. Plasmodium: The genus of the parasite that causes malaria. The genus includes four species that infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, and Plasmodium ovale. Plasmid: A genetic particle physically separate from the chromosome of the host cell. Pleura: One of the two thin, smooth membranes lining the interior of the chest and covering the surface of the lungs. Pleural effusion: increased amounts of fluid within the pleural cavity usually due to inflammation. pneum-: Pertaining to: a. Breathing. b. Breath. Pneumonia: Inflammation of the lungs characterized by fever, chills, muscle stiffness, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing. Polysaccharide vaccines- Vaccines that are composed of long chains of sugar molecules that resemble the surface of certain types of bacteria. Polysaccharide vaccines are available for pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease and Haemophilus Influenzae type b. Poxvirus: One of a group of viruses that produce spreading vesicular lesions, including smallpox, vaccinia, and molluscum contagiosum. Precaution: A condition in a recipient, which may result in a life-threatening problem if the vaccine is given, or a condition, which could compromise the ability of the vaccine to produce immunity. Pre-erythrocytic: Prior to entering red blood cells. Prescribing practices: the behavior of licensed medical or veterinary practitioners regarding their prescription of medicines, including such aspects as high or low propensity to prescribe such medicines, and procedural aspects such as readiness to delegate to non-medically-qualified staff decisions on repeat prescriptions and other routine demands. Prescription-only medicines: Medicines that are only legally available to the "end user" if he/she obtains a prescription from a licensed professional (e.g. veterinarian, Medical doctor, dentist). Prevalence: The number of disease cases (new and existing) within a population over a given time period. Prime-boost: Administration of one type of vaccine, such as a live-vector vaccine, followed by or together with a second type of vaccine, such as a recombinant subunit vaccine. The intent of this combination regimen is to induce different types of immune responses and enhance the overall immune response, a result that may not occur if only one type of vaccine were to be given for all doses. Priming: Giving one vaccine dose(s) first to induce certain immune responses, followed by or together with a second type of vaccine. The intent of priming is to induce certain immune responses that will be enhances by the booster dose(s). Prophylactic use: The administration of an antimicrobial to healthy animals prior to an unexpected exposure to an infectious agent or, following such an exposure prior to onset of laboratory-confirmed clinical disease. Generally such usage is in a herd or flock situation and not an individual animal. Prophylaxis: Prevention of disease. Prostate: A gland in the male reproductive system that lies just below the bladder and surrounds part of the canal that empties the bladder. Protocol: The detailed plan for a clinical trial that states the trial's rationale, purpose, vaccine dosages, routes of administration, length of study, eligibility criteria and other aspects of trial design. Prudent use of antimicrobials: Usage of antimicrobials, which maximizes therapeutic effect and minimizes the development of antimicrobial resistance. PSA antigen: A glycoprotein found in normal seminal fluid and produced by the prostatic epithelial cells. Elevated levels in blood serum are associated with prostatic enlargement and prostatic adenocarcinoma, and this allows detection of cancer in many cases.
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scientist who is also a human being cannot rest | |
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