Aids Glossary: F-L
Description
This article is from the Health Articles series.
Aids Glossary: F-L
Functional antibody: An antibody that binds to an antigen and has an effect. For example, neutralizing antibodies inactivate HIV or prevent it from infecting other cells.
Genome: The full set of genes present in a cell or virus.
gp41: Glycoprotein 41, a protein imbedded in the outer envelope of HIV. Plays a key role in HIV's infection of CD4+ T cells by facilitating the fusion of the viral and cell membranes.
gp120: Glycoprotein 120, a protein that protrudes from the surface of HIV and binds to CD4+ T cells.
gp160: Glycoprotein 160, a precursor of HIV envelope proteins gp41 and gp 120.
Half-life: The time required for half the amount of a substance to be eliminated from the body.
Homologous: Similar in appearance, structure or function.
Host: A plant or animal harboring another organism.
Humoral immunity: Immunity that results from the activity of antibodies in blood and lymph tissue.
Hypothesis: A tentative statement or supposition, which may then be tested through research.
Incidence: The occurrence of some event, such as the number of individuals who get a disease, divided by a total given population per unit of time.
Immune complex: Combination of antibodies and antigens. May also contain complement proteins.
Immunity: Natural or acquired resistance to a specific disease. Immunity may be partial or complete, long-lasting or temporary.
Immunogen: A substance capable of provoking an immune response. Also called an antigen.
Immunogenicity: The ability of an antigen or vaccine to stimulate an immune response.
Immunoglobulin: Also called antibody.
Immunotherapy: A treatment that stimulates the body's immune system.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria: The medical or social reasons why a person may or may not be accepted into a clinical trial.
IND (investigational new drug): The status of an experimental drug after the FDA agrees that it can be tested in people.
Informed consent: The process by which prospective subjects voluntarily agree to participate in a clinical trial after receiving information about risks and benefits as well as alternatives.
In vitro: A test system outside a living organism (but often derived from a living organism) in which a biologic process can be observed.
In vivo: Testing within a living organism, e.g., human or animal studies.
IRB (Institutional Review Board): A committee of physicians, statisticians, community advocates and others that reviews trial protocols before they can be initiated at any site. IRBs ensure that the trial is ethical and that the rights of human subjects are adequately protected.
Isolate: a particular strain of HIV taken from a patient.
LAI: A group of closely related HIV-1 isolates that includes the LAV, IIIB and BRU strains of HIV. Used in HIV vaccine development.
Lymphocyte: A white blood cell. Present in the blood, lymph and lymphoid tissues. See B cell and T cell.
Lymphoid organs: Include tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, spleen and other tissues. Act as the body's filtering system, trapping invaders and presenting them to squadrons of immune cells that congregate there.
Continue to:
My Books
