| cross-resistance | <immunology, microbiology> Immunologic resistance to the pathogenic effects of a microorganism because of previous exposure to another species or type having cross reactive antigens. This phenomenon is seen in microbes that acquire resistance to one drug through direct exposure and turn out to have resistance to one or more other drugs to which it has not been exposed. Cross-resistance arises because the mechanism of resistance to several drugs is the same and arises through the identical genetic mutations. (09 Oct 1997) |
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