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Vaccine Science: |
Glossary
A | B-D | E-G | H-K | L-N | O-P | Q-S | T-Z TT cells: A subset of lymphocytes defined by their development in the thymus and by heterodimeric receptors associated with the proteins of the CD3 complex. Most T cells have ab heterodimeric receptors but gdT cells have a gd heterodimeric receptor. Temporal association: Two or more events that occur around the same time but are unrelated, chance occurrences. Taxol: A drug derived of Taxanes, chemically known as Paclitaxel. Derived from a natural/semi-synthetic extract of the bark of the western yew (Taxus brevifolia or Taxus baccata). Emerging as the most powerful anti-cancer drug in the treatment of breast, ovarian, Kaposi's sarcoma and AIDS-related lung cancers. Acts by disrupting the microtubule equilibrium thereby inhibiting cell replication. T helper 1 cells: A subset of CD4 cells that make the cytokines IFN-g and TNF on recognition of antigen. Their major function is the activation of macrophages and are sometimes called inflammatory CD4 T cells. T helper 2 cells: A subset of CD4 T cells that are characterized by the cells they produce. They are mainly involved in stimulating B cells to produce antibody, and are often called helper CD4 cells. Therapy: Medical treatment. Therapeutic use: Application of antimicrobials in curative does in an adequate period of time to combat an established infection. Titer: The detection of antibodies in blood through a laboratory test. T lymphocyte proliferation assay: A test used to measure the memory of T cells to antigens. TNF-alpha, beta: abbreviation for tumor necrosis factor. A cytokine produced by macrophages and T cells that has multiple functions in the immune response. It is the defining member of the TNF family of cytokines. These cytokines function as cell-associated or secreted proteins that interact with receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor via components known as TRAF's (tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factors). Tolerance: Tolerance is the failure to respond to an antigen; when that antigen is borne by self-tissues, tolerance is called self-tolerance. Toxicity: Referring to medical treatments, the degree to which they produce unwanted, adverse effects. Toxic shock syndrome: An acute, sometimes fatal, intoxication by an infectious agent during which organ activity is blocked causing severe shock and hypotension. Transgenic: Genetically modified by recombinant DNA methods. Transverse Myelitis: The sudden onset of spinal cord disease. Symptoms include general back pain followed by weakness in the feet and legs that moves upward. There is no cure and many patients are left with permanent disabilities or paralysis. Transverse Myelitis is a demyelinating disorder that may be associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Also see demyelinating disorders. TRP-2: Tyrosine related protein-2, a melanogenesis- related protein shown to be immunogenic in animal model and humans. Tumor: a. A swelling; a morbid enlargement. b. A neoplasm; i.e., a mass of new tissue, physiologically useless, growing independently of its surroundings. UUticaria: The eruption of red marks on the skin that are usually accompanied by itching. This condition can be caused by an allergy (e.g. to food or drugs), stress, infection or physical agents (e.g. heat or cold). Also known as hives. VVaccination: The administration of a killed or weakened infectious organism in order to prevent the disease. Vaccine: A product that produces immunity therefore protecting the body from the disease. Vaccines are administered through needle injections, by mouth and by aerosol. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS): A database managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. VAERS provides a mechanism for the collection and analysis of adverse events associated with vaccines currently licensed in the United States. Reports to VAERS can be made by the vaccine manufacturer, recipient, their parent/guardian or health care provider. For more information on VAERS call (800) 822-7967. Vaccine Safety Datalink Project (VSD): In order to increase knowledge about vaccine adverse events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have formed partnerships with four large health Management Organizations (HMOs) to continually evaluate vaccine safety. The project contains data on more than 6 million people. Medical records are monitored for potential adverse events following immunization. The VSD project allows for planned vaccine safety studies as well as timely investigations of hypothesis. Vaccinia virus: virus causing cowpox, used by Edward Jenner in the successful vaccination against smallpox, which is caused by the related variola virus. Varicella: Chickenpox Vector: A carrier. Vinblastin: A chemotherapeutic drug derived from Vinca rosea that arrests cell division in mitosis and exhibits antimetabolic activity. Used in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease, choriocarcinoma, acute and chronic leukemia and other neoplastic diseases. Virulence factor: A specific factor possessed by an organism rendering the organism pathogenic, or established in the host E.g. enzymes, toxins and so on. Virus: A tiny organism that multiples within cells and causes disease such as chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis and hepatitis. Antibiotics, the drugs used to kill bacteria, do not affect viruses. Virus-like particle: An assembly of capsid proteins into a shell like structure without nucleic acid and thus non- infectious. These empty shells can display conformational epitopes that are not present on individual purified capsid proteins. WWhipworm: Common name for a roundworm often parasitic in the human intestines. WHO: World Health Organization. Whooping cough: An acute infectious disease caused by Bordetella Pertussis with recurrent spasms of coughing ending in a sonorous and convulsive respiration. SYN: pertussis Wohlfahrtia: A genus of flies parasitic in animal tissue, belonging to the family Sacrophagidae, order Diptera. Woolsorter's disease: A pulmonary form of anthrax that develops in those who handle wool contaminated with Bacillus anthracis. Wright's stain: A combination of eosin and methylene blue used in studying blood cells and revealing malarial parasites. XXanthopsis: Yellow pigmentation seen in certain cancers and degenerating tissue. xeno-: a combining form meaning 'strange or referring to foreign matter'. Xenoimmunisation: To deliberately induce an immune response using foreign antigen, from a different species. YYaws: An infectious nonvenereal disease caused by a spirochete, Treponema pertenue. Mainly found in humid, equatorial regions. Symptoms include febrile disturbances, rheumatism, eruption of tubercles with a caseous crust on hands, feet, face and external genitals. SYN: bouba; frambesia; tropica; parangi; pian. Yellow fever: An acute infectious disease characterized by jaundice, epigastric tenderness, vomiting, hemorrhages, and a febrile course consisting of two paroxysms. There are two forms of yellow fever: urban, in which the transmission cycle is mosquito; and sylvan, in which the reservoir is wild primates. Also, in sylvan yellow fever, the mosquito will remain infected for life. Except for a few cases in Trinidad in 1954, urban yellow fever has not been reported in North or South America since 1942. Outbreaks do occur in Africa adjacent to rain forests. Yellow fever has not been reported in Asia or eastern coast of Africa. Sylvan yellow fever is enzootic in South America and parts of Africa. Yersin's serum: [Alexandre Emil Jean Yersin, Swiss bacteriologist who worked in Paris, 1863-1943] An antitoxic serum for the plague. Young's rule: A method for calculating the dose of medicine a child should receive. Divide the age by the age plus 12. The result represents the fraction of the adult dose suitable for the child. Named after Thomas Young. ZZoonotic bacteria: Bacteria that are present in animal reservoirs, that can be transferred to and cause infections in humans. Zoosmosis: Process of passage of living protoplasm into the tissues from blood vessels. Zyme: An enzyme or ferment; an agent that produces an infectious disease. Zymoid: Resembling an enzyme
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scientist who is also a human being cannot rest | |
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