microbiology college network set 1

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systematic infection
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infection spread via the blood or lymphatic system
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focal infection
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infection spread from a specific locale
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acute infection
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severe infection that begins abruptly
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chronic infection
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infection that appears gradually and lasts for an extended period of time
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subacute infection
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infection with intermediate duration and symptoms
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primary infection
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infection caused by the organism that initiated the infection
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secondary infection
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infection caused by a different organism than the one that established the original primary infection
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subclinical, asymptomatic, or apparent infecti0n
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infection that , though present and growing, does not manifest symptoms
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abscess
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discrete infection that blocks the entry of immune system cells
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bacteremia
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bacteria in the blood
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septicemia
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actively growing bacteria in the blood
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viremia
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virus in the blood
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leukocytosis
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increased number of white blood cells
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leukopenia
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decreased number of white blood cells.
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aciduric bacteria
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bacteria, that are resistant to acid. (helicobacter pylori)
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antiseptics
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milder disinfectants that tend to be used on human flesh
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aseptic
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with out contamination
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autoclave
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essentially a large pressure cooker used to heat solutions beyond the boiling point for purposed of sanitization
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bactericides
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disinfectants that show preferential killing of bacteria
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bacteriostatic agents
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disinfectants that inhibit the growth of bacteria but do not kill
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biocide
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a nonspecific disinfecting agent
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cationic detergents
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disinfectants that kill microbes by dissolving membrane lipids
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chemiclaves
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devices that use harsh chemicals such as ethylene oxide or gamma irradiation to achieve sterilization
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disinfection
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a reduction in the number of viable microbial organisms in an area
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flash pasteurization
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a process of pasteurization at 71.5 C for 15 seconds
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fungicides
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disinfectants that show preferential killing for fungi
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fungistatic agents
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disinfectants that inhibit growth of fungi but do not kill
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halides
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a category containing, among other chemicals, iodine and chlorine, 2 bactericidal agents.
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iatrogenic disease
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a disease induced in a patient by a physician, perhaps due to a failure to properly sterilize
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incineration
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a method of sterilizing metal by burning it
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nosocomial diseases
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diseases acquired in the hospital setting
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pasteurization
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a process that heats foods, such as milk, to high enough temp to kill most vegetative cells; usually achieved by 30 minutes at 63 c.
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phenol
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a chemical that has been used in diluted forms to cleanse hands before surgery, called the gold standard of infection
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phenol coefficient
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the effectiveness of a disinfectant agent divided by the effectiveness of phenol; a measure used to describe the effectiveness of a given disinfectant.
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phenolics
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milder derivatives of phenol
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resident organisms
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organisms at their normal site of growth or niche
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sanitize
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to treat something in such a way as to reduce mircrobes to a safe level
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sterilization
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a way of killing all microbial life on an object
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transient organisms
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organisms that are not at their normal site of growth or niche
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ultrafiltration
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filtration for microbes using a filter with pore sizes smaller than the smallest bacterium
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ultrapasteurization
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a process of pasteurization at 82 c for 3 seconds
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virucides
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disinfectants that show preferential killing for viruses
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aminoglycosides
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antibiotics that cause bacteria to incorrectly read codons
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ampicillin
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a broad range derivative of pcn whose modification allows it to penetrate the outer membrane of gram negative bacteria and kill them
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antibiotic susceptibility
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the extent to which an organism is susceptible or resistant to the various antibiotics
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antibiotics
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chemical agents safe for use internally for pt care
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b-lactam
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a 4 membered ring structure in pcns that is crucial to their activity
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broad spectrum antibiotics
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antibiotics that can inhibit most all organisms
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chemotherapeutic agents
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various chemicals that can be used broadly to kill infectious agents; most commonly associated with agents used for the tx of cancer today
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chloramphenicol
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antibacteria that inhibit the formation of peptide bonds
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ciprofloxacin
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a kind of polymixin that is tolerated quite well by human membranes and, therefore, used internally and extensively
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epsilometer test
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a type of antibiotic resistance assay, also called the E-test, that allows one to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of the antibiotics being tested. This test is quantitative rather than qualitative and is widely accepted for susceptibility profiling or clinical bacterial and fungal isolates.
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erythromycin
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antibacterials that inhibit movement of the peptidyl-tRNA to prevent addition of more amino acids.
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kirby-bauer test
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a major test of antibiotic susceptibility in organisms
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minimum effective therapeutic dose
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the most dilute concentration of antibiotic required to inhibit bacteria growth in a specific pt.
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minimum inhibitory concentration
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the most dilute concentration that inhibits bacterial growth in a tube dilution test
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narrow spectrum
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antibiotics that inhibit only a specific type of bacteria, such as pcn, which inhibits only gram + bacteria
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polymyxin
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antibiotics that interfere with membrane transport and are used against gram - organisms; usually used topically because of toxicity to human membranes.
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quinolines
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antibiotics that act against bacterial dna synthesis
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rifampin
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an antibiotic that inhibits bacterial rna synthesis
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selection
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in this context, the process wherein mutant bacteria survive and grow in spite of antibiotics and, thus, are considered \"selected\" to survive.
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selective toxicity
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a theoretical ideal for drugs wherein they have 100% lethality for microbes without any ill effects on human pts.
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sulfa
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drugs that inhibit the synthesis of the vitamin folic acid from paraaminbenzoic acid
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tetracyclines
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antibacterials that inhibit tRNA binding
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therapeutic index
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the lowest toxic dose of an antibiotic divided by the minimum effective therapeutic dose; tells us the range of dosage we can use in the human body.
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tube dilution test
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a test in which the antibiotic is serially diluted into several tubes of bacteria to determine how little antibiotic is required to stop bacterial growth.
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zone of inhibition
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the area of dead or growth inhibited organisms left by an antibiotic in a kirby-bauer test of antibiotic susceptibility.
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abscesses
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walled off, discrete infections to which the cells of immune system cannot gain entry
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aerosols
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droplets produced by coughing or sneezing; a common mode of microbe transmission
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avirulent microbes
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microbes that do not cause disease
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chronic carrier
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a person who sheds a given microbe during its latent state and can, therefore, spread the disease though he is asymptomatic
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clinical disease
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a disease with visible symptoms
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communicable disease
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diseases whose agents can by passed from 1 host to another
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contagious disease
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a highly communicable disease
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endemic
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an adjective describing diseases that take place within a specific locale
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endotoxins
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an integral part of the microbe that is a common virulence factor
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epidemic
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an outbreak of a disease in a restricted area such as a city or state
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epidemiology
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the practice of identifying new organisms and their modes of spread
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exoenzymes
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enzymes secreted by organisms
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exotoxins
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a toxin secreted from the microbe and a common virulence factor
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extracellular pathogen
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a pathogen that survives in humans by characteristic virulence factors that allow it to evade phagocytic cells that would otherwise destroy it.
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fecal-oral route
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a route of transmission caused by bacteria moving from fecal matter to a host's mouth; for instance, this may occur if a restaurant worker fails to wash his hands after using the restroom.
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fomite
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an inanimate object through which an infection spreads
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hemolysins
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toxins or enzymes that cause RBCs to lyse and release their contents, which then become available to the pathogen as nutrient sources
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horizontal transmission
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transmission of a disease from 1 individual to another
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infection control committee
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committees at local hospitals responsible for identifying and controlling the spread of outbreaks as rapidly as possible
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infection control nurse
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a nurse responsible for identifying and controlling the spread of outbreaks as rapidly as possible
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infectious dose
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refers to how many organisms are required, on average, to establish an infection
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intracellular pathogen
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a pathogen that has developed virulence factors that allow it to survive even inside of phagocytic cells
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latency
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the extent to which a disease appears to subside when, in fact, the pt continues to host the microbes in a dormant state.
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latent state
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a phase during which symptoms of a disease subside and the pt is apparently well, but somewhere in the body the microbes carry on in a dormant state
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pandemic
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a disease that spreads over the entire world
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portal of entry
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the site where pathogens gain access to tissue that can be infected
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sequelae
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diseases that seem to completely mend but have specific aftermaths or follow up problems later
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vertical transmission
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transmission of a disease from parent to progeny
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virulence factors
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the microbial chemical factors that are required for or important to establishing disease
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acquired immunity
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involves induction of a specific immune response that is remembered, which provides for long term immunity
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alternative pathway
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a pathway of the complement system beginning with C3 that is believed to be very important in preventing infections before antibody production has time to occur.
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alveolar macrophages
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leukocytes, or WBCs, in the lungs
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basophils
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the principle nonphagocytic cells of the innate immunity ( along with eosinophils)
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chemotactic factors
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factors created by the classical pathway that recruit (or attract) phagocytic cells to the site of infection
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ciliated epithelial cells
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natural barriers to infection that sweep the mucous layer toward bodily orifices
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classical pathway
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the 1st component, C1, binds to bacterial-bound antibodies and becomes activated so that it causes binding and activation of other components: C4, C2, C3, and C5 (in that order).
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complement
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a special set of proteins that circulates through out the body and binds to bacteria
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complement cascade
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a process in which complement circulates throughout the body and binds to bacteria, called as such because the proteins act in a sequential order.
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cytokines
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small chemicals secreted by 1 cell as a form of communication or signaling to other cells
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diapedesis
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phagocytes' process of exiting the blood stream and squeezing between vascular endothelial cells
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eosinophils
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the principal nonphagocytic cells of innate immunity (along with basophils)
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immunity
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human or animal systems of defense to fight off infection
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innate immunity
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a type of immunity that includes the physical barriers (intact skin and mucous membranes), biological barriers (skin secretions and other related products) and chemical barriers (complement, inflammation, and fever).
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interferons
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small proteins released by infected macrophages, fibroblasts, and t cells to alert neighboring cells
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iron binding proteins
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proteins that sequester iron to prevent adequate nutritional availability for microbes
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leukocytes
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white blood cells
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macrophages
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a type of WBC compromising about 8% of the average count, appearing in many tissues, such as lung, liver, and skin cells.
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mast cells
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cells that are found in the tissues and appear to have identical functions to those of basophils
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membrane attack complex
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a complex that forms a pore in the bacterial membrane, resulting in leakage, lysis, and death of the microbe
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neutrophils
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cells whose nuclei stain with a natural dye
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opsonin
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another name for C3b, which includes a specific receptor for phagocytic PMNs to bind and subsequently ingest opsonized particles
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phagosome
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a membrane bag inside phagocytic cells
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PMNs
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wbcs that function to engulf and digest foreign matter; they account for 55% of all the WBCs
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reticlonedothelial system
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before the various kinds of phagocytic cells were characterized, the whole systems was called by this name.
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active immunization
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also called active vaccination, the active prevention of diseases in a potential host; usually provides lifelong immunity
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agglutination
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the process wherein antibody molecules crosslink bacteria or other microbes so that large aggregates of microbes can be formed.
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allergens
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antigens that induce allergies
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allergic
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when one is especially sensitive to specific antigens
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anaphylactic hypersensitivity
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A type 1 hypersensitivity reaction where IgE molecules bound to basophils and mast cells bind allergens, which causes release of histamine and other potent active chemicals
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anaphylactic shock
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a reaction to release histamine throughout the body wherein blood pressure can drop precipitously and death may occur within minutes
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antibody (ab)
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proteins used by the body to identify and combat foreign objects and microbes
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antigen presenting cell (apc)
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an accessory cell necessary for the creation and proliferation of memory cells.
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antigens (ags)
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proteins or polysaccharides used to recognize foreign materials.
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atopic
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a category of people with high levels of and IgE and several resultant allergies.
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B lymphocyte
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antibody producing cell.
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cell mediated immunity
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immunity conferred by white blood cells, especially T cells
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clonal deletion
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a process wherein b and t cells are deleted because they recognize themselves as Ags early in a persons life.
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complement fixation
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the binding of complement proteins
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constant region
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the part of the antibody amino acid chain that does not change
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cytotoxic T cells (Tc)
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T cells that express CD8 protein on the surface; cells kill virally infected cells and may cause tissue graft rejection.
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degranulate
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a step in an allergic reaction wherein cells release histamine and other chemicals that cause allergic reactions
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delayed hypersensitvity
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mediated by immune cells; cells must migrate from the blood stream to athe affected tissues before damage is observed, which requires 1 to 2 days to develop
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epitope
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an amino acid recognized by antibodies
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fragment antigen binding (fab)
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the portion of the antibody molecule's amino acid chain that contains the antigen binding sites.
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globulin
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a globular, or roundish, protein in the shape of a ball
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haptens
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small chemicals that fit into the antibody binding site
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histamine
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a chemical involved in triggering allergic reactions
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humoral immunity
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refers to antibodies that stay in the fluid part of the blood
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immediate hypersensitivity
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called as such because the IgE antibodies are already bound before type I hypersensitivity occurs, so it occurs immediately.
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immune complex diseases
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diseases that occur because complexes of antibodies and antigens are not digested well, get filtered through the kidney, and cause inflammation; the complexes also stick to blood vessels, which causes damage to host tissues when the complexes are ultimately destroyed
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immunization
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the general process of increasing a specific type of the body's immune capability to a living or a inanimate antigen
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immunogen
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a B-cell stimulating antigen
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immunoglobulin
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antibody proteins that have been isolated from the blood.
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inducibility
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a hallmark of acquired immunity, the extent to which content with foreign material stimulates immunity
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intericukins
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a subset of cytokines made by leukocytes
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lymphocytes
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a subset of leukocytes essential to acquired immunity and responsible for specifically recognizing foreign antigens
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major histocompatibility complexq
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receptors that allow immune system cells to recognize each other in the body.
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mediators
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chemicals, like histamine, released by cell granules and responsible for triggering allergic reactions
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memory
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a hallmark of acquired immunity, the tendency that subsequent exposure to a given antigen will result in a faster and greater response to the identical foreign material
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memory cells
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daughter cells created on the event of b cells binding with antigens; essentially identical to their parent cells.
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monoclonal antibodies
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large populations of antibodies created from 1 clone or cell
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nonself
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a classification for foreign antigens employed by immunologists
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opsonization
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the process in which the Fe portion of the antibody changes configuration such that a specific receptor on the phagocytes binds them tightly.
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passive immunization
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a type of immunization, but not vaccination, wherein specific antibodies are transferred from 1 individual to another suspected of recently having been exposed to the same microbe
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perforin
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a toxic protein secreted by Tc cells that opens channels or holes in infected cells and kills them so that these cells discontinue production of microbes.
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plasma cells
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daughter cells created on the event of B cells binding with antigens; cells start secreting antibodies of the same type that originally bound the antigen
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polyclonal antibodies
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a population of antibodies descended from several B cells
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precipitate
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In this context, small Ab-Ag complexes are placed in a centrifuge that spins rapidly to generate centrifugal forces (like a washing machine spinning out water) and precipitates the aggregates at the bottom of the tube.
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secondary antibody
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an antibody that binds to human antibodies
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self
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a classification for our own antigens employed by immunologists
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sensitization
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the early exposures that lead to IgE binding to cells, causing sensitivity to a particular allergen to develop.
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specificity
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immunity, stimulated by contact with foreign material, that recognizes only the stimulatory agent.
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T cell receptor (TCR)
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a specific surface receptor on T lymphocytes that is used to recognize foreign antigens.
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T helper cells
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a subset of t cells that recognizes specific antigens and causes proliferation of other immune cells
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T lymphocyte
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a type of lymphocyte that leaves the bone marrow and travels to the thymus for maturation
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T suppressor cells
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T cells that express CD8 protein on the surface; these cells dampen an immune proliferation response so that it stops when an adequate level is reached.
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t dependent response
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antibody secreting plasma cells and memory b cells are both formed in response to protein antigens.
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t independent response
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plasma cells are produced to make antibodies in response to polysaccharide antigens, but no memory cells are formed; this, therefore, does not yield long term immunity
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tolerance
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In this context, refers to the way the immune system learns to ignore self antigens.
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vaccination
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the stimulation of an immune response that protects against a specific living infectious agent.
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variable regions
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the antigen binding sites on the amino acid chain of an antibody molecule that are extremely variable
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weal and flare
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an allergic reaction causing a local skin lesion that is red, raised, and watery inside
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western blot analysis
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an accurate method of identifying viral proteins in a host.
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