A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S T U V
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) - a virus that weakens the immune system and subjects the patient to opportunistic diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. The virus is transmitted through the exchange of body fluids, primarily semen, blood, and blood products. Though progress has been made in prolonging the life of AIDS patients, there is currently no cure for the disease. However, it can be prevented by having protected sex and using sterilized needles. AIDS is a problem throughout the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
aerobic - growing or thriving only in the presence of oxygen.
aerosol transmission - a cloud or mist of solid or liquid particles containing pathogenic microorganisms, released by sneezing or coughing.
amoebiasis - disease caused by the protozoan Entameoba histolytica, a type of ameoba.
analgesics - drugs that relieve pain.
antibiotic - a substance made either from a mold or bacterium, or synthetically that inhibits or kills certain microorganisms, specifically bacteria, and that treats infections.
antibodies - any of a large number of proteins of high molecular weight that are produced, as part of the immune response, in response to an antigen which it then neutralizes, tags or destroys.
antigen - any foreign substance that when introduced into the body, stimulates an immune response.
arthropod - an invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton.
asexual reproduction - a type of reproduction where an organism replicates itself, by budding or dividing, without the involvement of other organisms.
attenuated - reduced in strength
autoimmune disease - any of a large group of diseases characterized by abnormal functioning of the immune system that causes it to produce antibodies against your own tissues.
autotrophs - microorganisms that use inorganic materials as sources of nutrients.
B cells - one of the two major classes of lymphocytes; during infections, B cells mature into plasma cells, which produce antibodies directed at specific antigens.
Babesiosis - a rare, often severe (and sometimes fatal) illness that is caused by a pathogen transmitted by ticks.
bacterium - a single celled microscopic organism, whose genetic material is not enclosed by a membrane.
binary fission - a form of asexual reproduction in which a cell divides into two daughter cells after DNA replication.
biological warfare - the use of bacteria or viruses, or their toxins as weapons.
Bubonic Plague - a bacterial infection, transmitted from the flea bite of an infected rat to humans. Symptoms include high fever, chills, weakness, and enlarged lymph nodes that turn black (hence the name "The Black Death.) The Plague originated in China and was spread to Western Asia and Europe because China was one of the busiest trading nations. This devastating disease killed 1/3 of Europe's population over a five year period. Though the plague no longer exists, the basic elements of transmission do making future epidemics a possibility. Preventative measures are the proper disposal of garbage and protecting household animals from flea infestation.
budding - a form of asexual reproduction where a bud or outgrowth from the end or side of the parent cell emerges and develops into a new organism.
capsid - the outer protein shell surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus.
capsomeres - repetitive protein subunits which form the capsid; often arranged in a symmetric pattern.
carbohydrate - chemical substances containing carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms which are an essential structural component of living cells and a source of energy for animals; i.e. sugars and starches.
carotid arteries - paired large caliber vessels that pass on either side of the neck supplying oxygenated blood to the brain.
cell-mediated - the branch of the immune system in which specific defense cells, rather than antibodies, respond and act against a foreign antigen.
cellulose - a complex carbohydrate that is the chief element of all plant tissues and fibers.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - a governmental agency whose mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling, disease, injury, and disability.
Chagas' disease - a parasitic infection that is transmitted by biting insects, it can be prevented by sleeping with bed netting and using insecticide to kill insects.
chemolithotrophs - organisms which obtain their energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds.
chemostat - an apparatus designed to grow bacteria indefinitely, while keeping the conditions and the colony size constant by having a continuous flow of liquid nutrient wash the colony and steadily remove bacteria.
Chicken Pox - a viral infection spread through direct contact or by coughing, sneezing, and touching contaminated clothing causing a blister like rash on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. The blisters first appear on the face and then spread to the entire body. Some children may have a few, and others have several hundred. A mild fever, or a general malaise are other symptoms that may accompany this infection. In 1995, a vaccine was developed that took 15 years to receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration, though it is not widely used. If a child does contract the disease, a topical solution is applied to the blisters, to soothe the itching, and in very rare cases, children have developed serious complications that have proved fatal.
chlorophyll - a group of green pigments found in green plants, algae, and some bacteria necessary for energy production.
Cholera - transmitted by fecal contaminated food and water and by ingesting raw or undercooked seafood. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and severe dehydration. This bacterial infection is endemic to India, Africa, the Mediterranean, South and Central America, Mexico, and the United States. The treatment that is administered is usually antibiotics, which shorten the duration of the illness. Death can result from the severe dehydration due to diarrhea. Contaminated water supply is the main mechanism for spreading the disease and improving sanitation conditions serves as the best form of prevention. A vaccination is available as a short term method to countries at risk. The smuggling of shellfish led to the reemergence of Cholera in the United States, so avoiding raw or undercooked seafood would reduce the risk.
chromosome - a threadlike body in the cell nucleus that carries the genes in a linear order.
cilia - short hair-like appendages found on the surfaces of some types of cells and organisms; used for either propelling trapped material out of the body or for locomotion.
coadaptation -mutual adaptation in two or more interactive species.
computerized axial tomography (CAT scan) - a special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2 dimensional cross sectional image.
conjugation - a mating process where the temporary union of two one celled organisms results in the exchange of genetic material.
cryptosporidiosis - an infection caused by an intestinal parasite, transmitted through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with animal feces.
cytoplasm - the living substance of a cell excluding the nucleus.
deforestation - the state of being clear of trees.
Dengue Fever - a virus transmitted from the bite of the Aedes mosquito. Symptoms include headaches, fever, joint pain, and a rash. The disease can be fatal if the patient goes into shock. Dengue fever occurs in most tropical areas, more recently in Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. The peak feeding activity of this mosquito is after daybreak and in the late afternoon. Wearing protective clothing that covers most of the body, arms and legs, and using insect repellent with the chemical DEET, are ways to prevent the disease. Prevention and control can be accomplished through mosquito control. Eradication of the mosquito with insecticides are the best preventative measures.
diagnosis - the act of identifying a disease and its cause.
dialysis - a medical procedure that uses a machine to filter waste products from the bloodstream and restore the bloods normal constituents.
Diptheria - an acute bacterial infectious disease that is spread by droplets sprays from an infected person; children can be immunized against this disease.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - the primary genetic material of a cell.
ecosystem - a community of organisms and their physical environment interacting as an ecological unit.
Ebola - a deadly virus that is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person, unsterilized needles or an infected animal. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, muscle aches, stomach pain, fatigue, and diarrhea. Initial symptoms occur 4-16 days after infection, and if not caught in time, proceed very rapidly. Ultimately, the virus causes all major organs to fail, resulting in death. In 1976 in Zaire, the disease appeared from an unknown place and killed 340 people. The origin of the virus was in the Congo, moving to the Sudan, the Ivory Coast, Zaire, and most recently in 1996 in rural Gabon. There are 4 types of Ebola virus: Ebola Zaire, Reston, Tai, and Sudan. Ebola Reston, which is the only virus that is not fatal to humans, only monkeys, made its way to the United States via an import of monkeys from the Philippine's. The scariest characteristic of this virus is that it is airborne. Early diagnosis is important in treating the virus, and extreme infection control methods such as isolation are the only way to prevent the spread of the virus.
electron microscopy - a form of microscopy in which a beam of electrons deflected by electromagnets can magnify a specimen up to 400, 000 times its original size.
Encephalitis - a virus caused by the bit of an infected mosquito; it can be prevented by wearing long pants and long sleeves, staying inside from dusk to dark when mosquitoes feed, and using insect repellent.
endemic - a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree in people of a certain class or in people living in a particular location.
endoplasmic reticulum - an extensive network of internal membranes within an eukaryotic cell which is necessary for protein synthesis.
enzyme - any of several complex proteins that are produced by cells and act as catalysts in specific biochemical reactions.
epidemic - a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease where many people are infected at the same time.
epidemiology - the branch of medical science dealing with the incidence, distribution and control of disease in a population.
eukaryote - a cell that possesses a defined nucleus surrounded by a membrane; protists, fungi, plants and animals are eukaryotes.
exposure - the act of coming into contact with a disease-causing microorganism; exposure may or may not lead to infection.
extremophiles - organisms (typically bacteria) that are adapted to living in extreme conditions, such as high salt, in ice or in thermal springs.
fermentation - the oxidation of compounds by the enzyme action of microorganisms.
flagellum - a thin filamentous appendage on cells, such as bacteria and protists, responsible for locomotion.
flora - in microbiology, the microorganisms present in a given environment; normal flora are those microorganisms which reside harmlessly within the human body.
fluke - a parasitic trematode worm, which has a flat, leaf shaped body and two suckers.
fungi - molds, mushrooms and yeasts which comprise the group of flowerless and seedless plants that reproduce by means of asexual spores showing no differentiation into stem, root and leaf, and are deprived of chlorophyll.
genotype - the particular set of genes found within an organism.
genus - a category in biological classification comprising one or more phylogenetically related species.
germ theory - a theory in medicine that infectious diseases result from the action of microorganisms.
Golgi apparatus - a membrane bound structure found within the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells which functions in protein synthesis.
habitat - the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - transmitted by exposure to rodent excrement via aerosol distribution, especially in moist areas, and rodent saliva from bites. This viral disease results in flu-like symptoms during the incubation period to severe respiratory problems, internal bleeding, and if the disease is not caught in time - death. The virus is divided into two groups: one found in Asia and Europe, the other in the United States. A recent outbreak in Chile in 1997, killed 25 people. From the initial outbreak in 1993, to 1997 - a total of 172 reported cases in the United States with only 45% resulting in death. Keeping an extremely clean house, especially the kitchen area, is key to the prevention of this virus. Other prevention measures include rodent proofing the area by keeping food in containers, discarding uneaten pet food, setting mouse traps, and keeping garbage properly stored. To date, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus, and the earlier the symptoms are reported, the better chance the patient has for recovery.
helix - something spiral in form.
helminth - a worm which is a multicellular animal, that can be either free-living or parasitic; i.e. roundworms, tapeworms, flukes.
hemagglutinin (H) protein - one of the two main proteins found on the surface of the virus which causes the flu; it is necessary for attaching the virus to the host cell.
hemorrhagic - showing evidence of bleeding; certain infections (hemorrhagic fevers) result in the loss of blood and body fluids.
Hepatitis A,B,C - Three types of this viral disease are transmitted in different ways: A- through ingestion of contaminated food or water, B- Sexually transmitted, and the use of unsterilized needles, and C- transfusion of tainted blood or transplant of infected tissue, affecting the liver. Symptoms are: nausea, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, and jaundice. Large nationwide outbreaks have occurred every decade, the last in 1989. Vaccinations have been developed for Hepatitis A and B, but not for C. Screening of blood and organ tissue donors is the best means of prevention of Hepatitis C.
hermaphroditic - having both male and female reproductive organs.
Herpes - a recurrent viral infection caused by Herpesvirus hominis (HVH); consists of the following five viruses: Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, human cytomegalovirus, Varicella-Zoster virus, and Epstein-Barr virus.
heterotrophs - microorganisms which require carbon dioxide and other organic compounds for their nutrition and energy needs.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) - a type of retrovirus that is responsible for the fatal illness Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Hookworm - a intestinal parasitic infection caused by larval hookworms that penetrate the host's skin; heavy infection with hookworm can create serious health problems for newborns, children, and persons who are undernourished; hookworm infections occur mostly in tropical and subtropical climates and are estimated to infect about 1 billion people -- about one-fifth of the world's population.
host - an organism that provides food or shelter for another organism.
humoral immunity - the branch of the immune system in which antibodies are produced in response to a foreign antigen.
hypodermic - administered by injection beneath the skin.
icosahedral - having twenty equal sides or faces.
immune system - the parts of the body that prevent and fight disease.
inflammatory disease - disease with inflamed tissue, characterized by pain, swelling, redness and heat.
Influenza - more commonly the "flu", is transmitted from the sneeze or cough of an infected person, person to person contact, or contact with objects that an infected person has contaminated with nose and throat secretions. The symptoms are fever, headache, chills, fatigue, muscle aches and pains, runny nose, sore throat, and hacking coughs. "Flu shots" have been developed, but some people are adversely affected by it. Good hygiene and sanitary measures are an effective means of prevention. People who do suffer from the virus are advised to drink plenty of fluids, bedrest, and over-the -counter medicines may lessen the intensity of the disease. Influenza epidemics, such as the Spanish influenza of 1918, can result in massive devastation.
inhibitor - a molecule which represses or prevents another molecule from engaging in a reaction.
intravenous - occurring within or entering by way of a vein.
Junin virus - this South American arenavirus is known as the Argentine hemorrhagic fever inflicting several hundred people annually; a rodent-borne virus whose origin or cause of spread remain unknown.
Kyasanur Forest Disease - a tick-borne encephalitis complex; a flavivirus transmitted between infected ticks and monkeys which can cause severe hemorrhagic fever.
Kuru - a slow-virus disease rarely seen today due to the discontinuance of cannibalism and ritualistic butchering; caused neurodegenerative changes; symptoms included gait disturbance, incoordination, and swallowing difficulty.
Leishmanisis - a parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of a female sandfly; improving sanitary conditions and spraying insecticides are a means of prevention.
Leptospirosis - a bacterial infection that is transmitted through direct contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from an infected animal.
limbic system - a system of functionally related neural structures in the brain that are concerned with emotion and motivation.
lipid - a fat or fat-like substance which is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents, and is an essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates).
Lyme Disease - transmitted from the bite of a deer tick, this bacterium subjects the victim to a circular rash with a clear center area. Other early warning signs are flu-like symptoms: fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle or joint pains. Within weeks to months of the onset of the rash, more serious symptoms occur: heart abnormalities, meningitis, encephalitis, and facial palsy. The first reported case of Lyme disease in 1982 was in the Long Island area, and subsequent cases were reported in Hudson Valley, Ulster and Duchess Counties, and in Canada. Wearing protective clothing, long sleeves and putting pants inside the socks when outdoors, using insect and tick repellent containing the chemical DEET, are ways to prevent Lyme disease.
lymphocyte - a white blood cell present in the blood, lymph, and lymphoid tissue; the two
