Antibody: Any of a number of proteins produced by the body from B cells and released into the blood supply as part of the immune response. The production of antibodies is triggered when the body encounters an antigen, or some foreign substance. Antibodies then lock onto the antigens as a first step in neutralizing the bacteria and other foreign substances that are the source of those antigens.
avian: of or relating to birds.
Cell: (in biology) the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. They are usually too small to see with the naked eye and consist of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Depending on their size, animals are made up of thousands to trillions of cells.
Dairy products: Anything that contains or is related to milk. or any building or company prepared for the distribution and sale of milk.
Dolphin: A group of highly intelligent marine mammals belonging to the toothed whale family. Members of this group include killer whales (killer whales), pilot whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
Emerging infectious disease: A disease that suddenly begins to infect more and more people and other organisms and is likely to increase dramatically in the near future.
Feces: The body’s solid waste consisting of undigested food, bacteria, and water. The feces of large animals are sometimes called feces.
feline: An adjective referring to cats (wild or domestic) or their behavior.
Ferret: A mammal belonging to the animal family that includes weasels, skunks, otters, and badgers.
Influenza: Abbreviation for influenza. This is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract that causes fever and severe pain. It often occurs as an infectious disease.
host: (in biology and medicine) an organism (or environment) in which another resides. Humans can serve as temporary hosts for foodborne pathogens and other infectious agents.
infect: (adjective: infection) Spreading a disease from one organism to another. This usually involves introducing some type of disease-causing bacteria into the individual.
Mammal: An animal that has hair or fur, is distinguished by its females producing milk to suckle their young, and (usually) giving birth to live young. They are also warm-blooded (or endothermic).
National Institutes of Health: (or NIH) This is the world’s largest biomedical research institution. It is part of the U.S. government and consists of 21 independent institutes, including the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute, as well as six additional centers. Most of it is located on a 300-acre facility in Bethesda, Maryland, and the campus includes 75 buildings. These institutes employ approximately 6,000 scientists and provide research funding to more than 300,000 researchers working at more than 2,500 other institutions around the world.
Nerve: A long, delicate fiber that transmits signals throughout an animal’s body. Animals have many nerves in their spines, some of which control movement of the legs and fins, and some of which convey sensations such as hot, cold, and pain.
Neurological: An adjective referring to the brain, spinal cord, or nerves.
Olfactory bulb: An area in the front of the brain that receives information from the olfactory receptor nerves in the nose (and nasal cavities).
Outbreak: The sudden outbreak of a disease within a population of people or animals. The term may also be applied to the sudden occurrence of destructive natural phenomena such as earthquakes or tornadoes.
Paralysis: The inability to intentionally move the muscles in one or more parts of the body. In some cases, the nerves that send signals for movement may be severed or damaged. In other cases, the brain may be the cause of the problem. The brain may not be able to understand or act on neural motor signals.
Peer review: (in research) The process by which experts in the field carefully read and critique the work of their colleagues before it is published in a research journal. Peer review helps prevent sloppy science and egregious mistakes from getting published.
prey: (noun) an animal species eaten by others. (v.) To attack and eat other species.
Protein: A compound made from long chains of one or more amino acids. Proteins are an essential part of all living organisms. They form the basis of living cells, muscles, and tissues. They also work inside cells. Antibodies, hemoglobin, and enzymes are all examples of proteins. Drugs often work by adsorbing to proteins.
Reproduction: (in biology) To copy something. When a virus makes new copies of itself (essentially replicates), this process is called replication. As if it were real or true without reproduction.
Respiratory: Refers to the part of the body that is involved in breathing (called the respiratory system) or to the part of the body that is involved in breathing. This includes your lungs, nose, sinuses, throat, and other large airways.
Risk: The probability or mathematical probability that something bad will happen. For example, exposure to radiation poses a risk of cancer. Or danger, or danger itself. (For example, some of the cancer risks people faced included drinking water contaminated with radiation and arsenic.)
sea: Ocean (or area that is part of an ocean). Unlike lakes and streams, sea water, or ocean water, is salty.
Seizure: A fleeting, uncontrollable “storm” that occurs suddenly in the brain. During navigation, the electrical and chemical activity of the brain changes. It can change someone’s movements and behavior, even consciously or not. Some people notice when they are having a seizure. No one else will remember it once it’s over. People who have recurrent seizures are usually diagnosed with epilepsy.
Species: A group of similar organisms that can produce offspring that can survive and reproduce.
Strain: (in biology) Organisms belonging to the same species that share small but distinct characteristics. For example, biologists breed specific strains of mice that may have particular susceptibilities to diseases. Certain bacteria or viruses may develop one or more mutations that turn them into strains that are immune to the normally lethal effects of one or more drugs.
Symptom: A physical or mental indicator that is generally considered characteristic of a disease. A single symptom, especially a common one such as fever or pain, can be a sign of many different types of injury or illness.
Tissue: The different types of substances that are made of cells and make up animals, plants, and fungi. Cells within tissues function as units to perform specific functions in living organisms. For example, different organs in the human body are often made from many different types of tissue.
trait: a characteristic of something. (in genetics) a quality or characteristic that can be inherited.
Communication: Something that is communicated or transmitted. (in medicine) to spread a disease or poisonous substance.
Variant: A version of something that may come in different forms. (In biology) Members of a species that have some characteristic (size, color, lifespan, etc.) that distinguishes them. (in genetics) a gene that has a slight mutation that may have made its host species better adapted to its environment.
Virologist: A researcher who studies viruses and the diseases they cause.
Virus: A small infectious particle consisting of genetic material (RNA or DNA) surrounded by proteins. Viruses can only reproduce by injecting their genetic material into the cells of an organism. Scientists often refer to viruses as living or dead, but in reality, many scientists argue that there are no truly living viruses. They do not eat like animals or produce their own food like plants. To survive, they must hijack the cellular machinery of living cells.
