• Antibody - An antibody is a protein substance produced by the immune system in response to a specific antigen that will identify and neutralize foreign material like bacteria and viruses, thus forming the basis of immunity. Each antibody recognizes a specific antigen unique to its target.
  • Antigen - An antigen is a substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody.
  • Antigenic Drift - An antigenic drift is a mechanism for variation by viruses that involves the accumulation of mutations within the antibody-binding sites so that the resulting viruses cannot be inhibited well by antibodies against previous strains making it easier for them to spread throughout a partially immune population. Antigenic drift occurs in both influenza A and influenza B viruses.
  • Antigenic Shift - An antigenic shift is a sudden shift in the antigenicity of a virus resulting from the recombination of the genomes of 2 viral strains. Antigenic shift is seen only with influenza A viruses. It results usually from the replacement of the hemagglutinin (the viral attachment protein that also mediates the entry of the virus into the cell) with a novel subtype that has not been present in human influenza viruses for a long time. The source of these new genes is the large reservoir of influenza viruses in waterfowl. The consequences of the introduction of a new hemagglutinin into human viruses is usually a pandemic, or a worldwide epidemic.
  • Endemic - This is the constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group; may also refer to the usual prevalence of a given disease within such area or group; A disease that occurs continuously or in expected cycles in a population, with a certain number of cases expected for a given period.
  • Epidemic - This is the occurrence in a community or region of cases of an illness, specific health-related behavior, or other health-related events clearly in excess of normal expectancy. The community or region and the period in which the cases occur are specified precisely. The number of cases indicating the presence of an epidemic varies according to the agent, size, and type of population exposed; previous experience or lack of exposure to the disease; and time and place of occurrence. Epidemicity is thus relative to usual frequency of the disease in the same area, among the specified population, at the same season of the year. A single case of a communicable disease long absent from a population or first invasion by a disease not previously recognized in that area requires immediate reporting and full field investigation; 2 cases of such a disease associated in time and place may be sufficient evidence to be considered an epidemic. The word may be used also to describe outbreaks of disease in animal or plant populations.
  • Epidemiology - Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in a population.
  • Immune - To be immune is to be protected from or resistant to a disease or infection by a pathogenic organism as a result of the development of antibodies or cell mediated immunity.
  • Immunity - Immunity is the state of being immune to or protected from a disease.
  • Immunity, acquired - This is immunity resulting from the development of active or passive immunity, as opposed to natural or innate immunity.
  • Immunity, active - This is immunity resulting from the development within the body of antibodies or sensitized T-lymphocytes that neutralize or destroy the infective agent.
  • Immunity, herd - This is immune protection through vaccination of a portion of the population, which may reduce the spread of a disease by limiting the number of potential hosts for the pathogen.
  • Immunization - This is the process of creating immunity to a specific disease in an individual.
  • Infection - An infection is the state or condition in which the body (or part of the body) is invaded by an infectious agent (e.g., a bacterium, fungus or virus), which multiplies and produces an injurious effect (active infection).
  • Isolation - Isolation is restricting the activities of people who are infected with a communicable disease to prevent the transmission to those who have not been infected. (Isolate = sick)
  • Outbreak - This is an epidemic limited to localized increase in the incidence of a disease, e.g., in a village, town, or closed institution; upsurge is sometimes used as a euphemism for outbreak; The sudden increase in the incidence of a disease or condition in a specific area.
  • Pandemic - This is an epidemic occurring over a very wide area, crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of people.
  • Toxin - This is one of a number of poisons produced by certain plants, animals, and bacteria. The term "toxin" is frequently used to refer specifically to a particular protein produced by some higher plants, animals and pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. A toxin typically has a high molecular weight (as compared to a simple chemical poison), is antigenic (elicits an antibody response), and is highly poisonous to living creatures.

    Viruses cause many common human infections, and are also responsible for a bevy of rare diseases. Viruses may contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material. Herpes simplex virus and the hepatitis- B virus are DNA viruses. RNA viruses include HIV and the hepatitis C virus. Researchers have grouped viruses together into several major families, based on their shape, behavior, and other characteristics.

    Among the DNA viruses, these include:
    • Adeno viruses
    • Hepadna viruses
    • Herpes viruses
    • Papova viruses (papilloma viruses)
    • Parvo viruses
    • Pox viruses
    On the RNA virus side, major families include: Picornaviruses (including the rhinoviruses)
    • Bornaviruses
    • Calciviruses
    • Filoviruses
    • Orthomyxoviruses
    • Paramyxoviruses
    • Retroviruses
    • Rhabdoviruses