Glossary of Definitions

Unsure of a word found in our site or its meaning? Scroll through our glossary to see if your word is explained here, or click on the letter that your word begins with below.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V W | X | Y | Z

A

Abrupt - exceedingly sudden and unexpected.

Adverse - unfavourable, undesirable.

Avian - pertaining to birds.

Antigen - a substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs. Also known as allergen.

Antigenic - of or relating to antigens.

C

Cull - kill.

Cell lysis - dissolution/destruction of a cell

E

Epidemic - an outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.

Epithelial - outermost surface

Eradicate - destroy completely.

F

Fatigue - tiredness, exhaustion.

G

Genome - the full DNA/RNA sequence of an organism.

Genus - in biology, a taxonomic group containing one or more species.

H

Haemagglutinin - an antigenic glycoprotein found on the surface of the influenza viruses that is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected.

Hypothesize - speculate, believe on uncertain or tentative grounds.

I

Immunize - render unsusceptible to a disease.

Incubation - the phase in the development of an infection between the time a pathogen enters the body and the time the first symptoms appear.

Influenza - an acute, highly contagious viral disease also known as flu.

Inhibit - block or limit.

L

Lipid - a fat. It is an oily organic compound, and an essential structural component of living cells.

M

Magnitude - relative size or extent.

Malaise - physical discomfort, eg aches and pains.

Matrix proteins - structural proteins linking the viral envelope with the virus core.

Mutation - an event that changes genetic structure or an alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism. Basically causes an overall change/alteration in structure/form.

N

Nucleoprotein - a nucleic acid combined with a protein, as in a chromosome.

Neuraminidase - surface protein responsible for enzymic processes of the virus, like breaking free from a host cell after replication.

P

Pandemic - an epidemic that is geographically widespread, occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world.

Pathogenic - able to cause disease.

Pathology - path/processes of a disease.

Pneumonia - respiratory disease characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma (excluding the bronchi) with congestion caused by viruses or bacteria or irritants.

Poultry - chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese raised for food.

Protein - a complex natural substance that has a globular or fibrous structure composed of linked amino acids. Proteins are also essential to the structure and function of all living cells and viruses.

Q

Quarantine - isolate to prevent the spread of infectious disease

R

Replication - the process whereby DNA/RNA makes a copy of itself before cell division.

Respiratory - pertaining to respiration or the act of breathing.

RNA - abbreviation for Ribonucleic Acid. In some viruses such as the avian influenza virus, RNA is the main genetic material and code present in the nucleus.

S

Strain - a group of organisms within a species that differ in small ways from similar groups.

Stockpile - accumulate a storage pile for future use.

Surveillance - continual observation of a group.

Swine - pigs.

Symptoms - any physical or mental changes caused by diseases.

T

Transmission - the act of transferring/spreading a disease.

V

Vaccination - act of taking a vaccine used to prevent the risk of contracting a certain disease.

Virology - study of viruses and viral diseases.

Virus - Simple submicroscopic parasites that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat and that is unable to replicate without a host cell. May also refer to the disease caused by the virus itself.