Glossary of Terms
Explore common immunology terms and what they mean.
Adaptive immunity
Adaptive immunity is the protection your body gains over time from exposure to pathogens. This branch of the immune system recognizes, eliminates, and remembers previously encountered pathogens.
AIDS
The final stage of HIV infection is acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This is when the number of T helper cells becomes very low.
Allergen
A substance (like pollen or pet dander) that causes an allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you’re allergic to, such as peanuts or bee stings.
Anti-angiogenics
Drugs that block the growth of new blood vessels tumors need to grow.
Antibiotic
An antibiotic is a medicine used to treat infections caused by bacteria by killing them or inhibiting their growth. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses, such as those that cause the common cold, flu, or COVID-19.
Antibody
Antibodies are proteins, produced by cells of the immune system, that detect and stick to antigens, flagging them for destruction by the immune system. Antibodies, also called immunoglobulins, are produced by immune cells to respond to specific antigens.
Antigen
Antigens are substances that prompt the body to launch an immune response. Common antigens are pathogens (like viruses or bacteria) or allergens.
Antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics.
Autoantibodies
Autoantibodies are immune proteins that mistakenly target and attack a person’s own healthy tissues and organs, leading to autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Autoimmunity
When the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells.
B cells
White blood cells that make antibodies to help fight infection. B cells develop in the bone marrow and are trained to produce antibodies to one specific pathogen. These cells can live a long time and remember previously encountered pathogens, allowing the body to respond quicker in the future.
Bacteria
Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms that are found in almost every environment on Earth. While some types of bacteria are pathogenic and cause disease, many are harmless or beneficial, playing crucial roles in processes like nutrient cycling, decomposition, and supporting human health through digestion.
Basic research
Scientific research aimed at understanding how things work, often in a lab and before a specific product or treatment is developed.
Bispecific antibodies
Developed for treating diseases such as cancer, these engineered antibodies can bind to two different targets at once, helping the immune system attack cancer.
