Glossary

Antibodies - any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced normally by specialized B cells after stimulation by an antigen and act specifically against the antigen in an immune response.

Antigen - any substance foreign to the body that evokes an immune response either alone or after forming a complex with a larger molecule (as a protein) and that is capable of binding with a product (as an antibody or T cell) of the immune response.

Antiviral - an agent that kills a virus or that suppresses its ability to replicate and, hence, inhibits its capability to multiply and reproduce.

Asymptomatic - presenting no symptoms of disease.

Avian - relating to, or derived from birds.

Cyanosis - a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.

Disease - a general term describing a morbid condition which can be defined by objective, physical signs (e.g. hypertension), subjective symptoms or mental phobias, disorder of function (e.g. biochemical abnormality), or disorders of structure (anatomic or pathological change). Existence of disease may be questioned in disorder of structure without associated disorder of function.

Endemic - restricted or peculiar to a locality or region.

Enzyme - protein that is produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions.

Epidemic - affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time.

Epidemiology - the study of the distribution and dynamics of diseases and injuries in human populations, specifically, the investigation of the possible causes of a disease and its transmission.

Etiology - the cause or origin of a disease or abnormal condition.

Flu - see influenza.

Gastrointestinal - of, relating to, affecting, or including both stomach and intestine.

Genetic reassortment - when a cell is infected by two similar but different viruses of one type, various combinations of the original parental viruses may be packaged or assembled into the new progeny; thus, a progeny virus may be a mixture of gene segments from each parental virus and therefore may gain a new characteristic, for example, a new surface protein.

Glycoprotein - a molecule that consists of a carbohydrate plus a protein.

Guillain-Barré syndrome - a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system and is characterized by muscle weakness and paralysis.

H5N1 - the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype presently of global concern.

Hemagglutinin (HA) - a protein found in the outer coat of certain bacteria and viruses. This protein helps virus particles bind to cells, making infection easier.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H:PAI) - influenza A viruses of the subtypes H5 or H7 that cause severe illness and high mortality in poultry. Although recently, HPAI H5N1 was found to cause no illness in some poultry, such as ducks. LPAI viruses have the potential to change into HPAI viruses.

Hygiene - conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health.

Immunity - a state of resistance to an agent, the pathogen, that normally produces an infection.

Influenza - an acute, highly contagious, viral disease that is marked especially by respiratory or intestinal symptoms; sudden onset, fever; prostration; and severe aches and pains.

Inter-pandemic - period in which no new influenza virus subtypes have been detected in humans.

Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) - most avian influenza A viruses have low pathogenicity, and are usually associated with mild disease in poultry. Humans may become infected with LPAI influenza A viruses, and may experience very mild symptoms (e.g., conjunctivitis (pink-eye)) to influenza-like illness.

Morbidity - a departure from a state of physical or mental well-being, resulting from disease or injury. Frequently used only if the affected individual is aware of the condition. Awareness itself connotes a degree of measurable impact. Frequently, but not always, there is a further restriction that some action has been taken such as restriction of activity, loss of work, seeking of medical advice, etc.

Mortality - death; the death rate; ratio of number of deaths to a given population.

Mutate - to undergo mutation.

Mutation - a relatively permanent change, a structural alteration, of genetic material.

Myalgia - muscle pain or tenderness.

Neuraminidase (NA) - an enzyme on the surface of an influenza virus particle that assists in the release of newly-formed virus particles from the surface of an infected cell.

Non-pandemic - period characterized by seasonal flu (i.e., influenza subtypes that have been circulating throughout the human population for some time).

Novel - new and not resembling something formerly known or used.

Nucelotide - a subunit of genetic material.

Pandemic - occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

Pathogen - an organism that causes disease.

Pathogenic - causing or capable of causing disease.

Pathogenicity - pathogen's ability to cause disease.

Pathologic - relating to or caused by disease.

Pneumonia - acute or chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs caused by an infectious agent.

Point mutations - a mutation that changes (e.g., through substitution, addition, or deletion) only one small area or single nucleotide in a gene.

Protein - a biological macromolecule made up of various amino acid chains that are joined by peptide bonds.

Replicates - see also replication.

Replication (virus) - the action or process of reproducing or duplicating.

Reye syndrome - Acute neurological illness in children, following influenza, chickenpox, or other viral infections, which causes brain swelling and fatty disease of the liver and kidneys, and can result in death.

Rhinitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.

Sialic acid receptor - Any of a group of amino carbohydrates that are components of mucoproteins and glycoproteins, especially in animal tissue and blood cells.

Strain - new strains of influenza viruses appear and replace older strains through antigenic drift. When a new strain of human influenza virus emerges, antibody protection that may have developed after infection or vaccination with an older strain may not provide protection against the new strain.

Subtype - influenza A viruses are classified by subtype on the basis of the two main surface glycoproteins; hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).

Thoracic - relating to or near the cavity in which the heart and lungs lie.

Uncomplicated influenza - influenza characterized by the abrupt onset of physical and respiratory symptoms (e.g., fever, muscle aches, headache, severe malaise, nonproductive cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose).

Vaccine - a preparation of killed microorganisms, living attenuated organisms, or living fully virulent organisms that is administered to produce or artificially increase immunity to a particular disease.

Virulent - marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course; able to overcome bodily defensive mechanisms (i.e., markedly pathogenic)

Virus - a virus particle after it has entered a host cell and has subverted or is in the process of subverting that cell's genetic mechanism to ensure its replication.

Definition Sources

Reye's syndrome. (n.d.). Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 27, 2006, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/reye-s-syndrome

Influenza. (n.d.). McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. Retrieved October 26, 2006, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/influenza

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2006. Retrieved from http://www.m-w.com/

Sialic acid. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 27, 2006, from Answers.com Web site: http://www.answers.com/topic/sialic-acid

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Glossary

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