Term
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Definition
A type of immunization that causes development of a complete and long-lasting immunity to a
certain infection through exposure of the body to the associated disease antigen; it can be natural active immunization (i.e., having the disease) or artificial active immunization (i.e., receiving a vaccine or toxoid). |
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Term
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Definition
Toxoids or vaccines that are administered
to a host to stimulate host production of antibodies. |
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Term
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Definition
Immunoglobulin molecules that have an antigenspecific
amino acid sequence and are synthesized by the
humoral immune system (B cells) in response to exposureto a specific antigen. Their purpose is to attack and destroy
molecules of this antigen. |
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Term
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Definition
The amount of an antibody needed to react
with and neutralize a given volume or amount of a specific
antigen. |
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Term
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Definition
Substances, usually proteins and foreign to a host,
that stimulate the production of antibodies and that react
specifically with those antibodies. Examples of antigens
include bacterial exotoxins and viruses. An allergen (e.g.,
dust, pollen, mold) is an antigen that can produce an immediate-type hypersensitivity reaction or allergy. |
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Term
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Definition
A serum that contains antibodies. It is usually obtained from an animal that has been immunized against a
specific antigen. |
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Term
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Definition
An antiserum against a toxin (or toxoid). It is most
often a purified antiserum obtained from animals (usually
horses) by injection of a toxin or toxoid so that antibodies
to the toxin (i.e., antitoxin) can be collected from the
animals and used to provide artificial passive immunity to
humans exposed to a given toxin (e.g., tetanus immunoglobulin). |
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Term
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Definition
An antiserum against a venom (poison produced by
an animal) used to treat humans or other animals that have
been envenomed (e.g., by snakebite, spider bite, or scorpion
sting). |
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Term
| Biologic antimicrobial drugs |
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Definition
Substances of biologic origin used to prevent, treat, or cure infectious diseases (e.g., vaccines, toxoids, immunoglobulins). These drugs are often
simply referred to as biologics. However, biologics also refers
to drugs of bioterrorism (e.g., anthrax spores, smallpox
virus), depending on the context. |
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Term
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Definition
The use of infectious biologic or chemical agents
as weapons for human destruction. |
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Term
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Definition
A repeat dose of an antigen, such as a vaccine or
toxoid, which is usually administered in an amount smaller
than that used in the original immunization. It is given to
maintain the immune response of a previously immunized
patient at, or return the response to, a clinically effective
level. |
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Term
| Cell-mediated immune system |
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Definition
| The immune response that is mediated by T cells (as opposed to B cells, which produce antibodies). T cells mount their immune response through activities such as the release of cytokines (chemicals that stimulate other protective immune functions) as well as through direct cytotoxicity (e.g., phagocytosis of an antigen). |
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Term
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Definition
Resistance to a disease on the part of an entire
community or population because a large proportion of its
members are immune to the disease. |
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Term
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Definition
A cascade of biochemical events that occurs
in response to entry of an antigen (foreign substance) into
the body; key processes of the immune response includephagocytosis (“eating of cells”) of foreign microorganismsand synthesis of antibodies that react with specific antigens to inactivate them. Immune response centers around the blood but may also involve the lymphatic system and the reticuloendothelial system (see later). |
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Term
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Definition
The induction of immunity by administration
of a vaccine or toxoid (active immunization) or antiserum
(passive immunization). |
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Term
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Definition
| Toxoids, vaccines, or immunoglobulins that are targeted against specific infectious microorganisms or toxins. |
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Term
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Definition
Glycoproteins synthesized and used by the
humoral immune system (B cells) to attack and kill all substances foreign to the body. The term is synonymous with
immune globulins. |
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Term
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Definition
A type of immunization in which immunity to infection occurs by injecting a person with antiserum
or concentrated antibodies that directly give the host
the means to fight off an invading microorganism (artificial
passive immunization). The host’s immune system therefore
does not have to manufacture these antibodies. This process
also occurs when antibodies pass from mother to infant during breastfeeding or through the placenta during pregnancy (natural passive immunization). |
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Term
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Definition
| Drugs containing antibodies or antitoxins that can kill or inactivate pathogens by binding to the associated antigens. These are directly injected into a person (host) and provide that person with the means to fend off infection, bypassing the host’s own immune system. |
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Term
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Definition
Relating to or containing a combination of
genetic material from two or more organisms. Such genetic
recombination is one of the key methods of biotechnology
and is often used to manufacture immunizing drugs and
various other medications. |
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Term
| Reticuloendothelial system |
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Definition
| Specialized cells located in the liver, spleen, lymphatics, and bone marrow that remove miscellaneous particles from the circulation, such as aging antibody molecules. |
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Term
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Definition
Any poison produced by a plant, animal, or microorganism
that is highly toxic to other living organisms. |
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Term
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Definition
Bacterial exotoxins that are modified or inactivated (by
chemicals or heat) so that they are no longer toxic but can still bind to host B cells to stimulate the formation of antitoxin; toxoids are often used in the same manner as vaccines to promote
artificial active immunity in humans. They are one type
of active immunizing drug (e.g., tetanus toxoid). |
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Term
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Definition
Suspensions of live, attenuated, or killed microorganisms
that can promote an artificially induced active immunity
against a particular microorganism. They are another type of
active immunizing drug (e.g., tetanus vaccine). |
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Term
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Definition
A poison that is secreted by an animal (e.g., snake,
insect, or spider). |
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