| lactic acid bacillus | A member of the genus Lactobacillus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lactic acid | A byproduct of carbohydrate metabolism (anaerobic metabolism). A lactic acid level may be measured in the bloodstream in conditions of metabolic acidosis. Lactic acid is an intermediate product of carbohydrate metabolism and is derived mainly from muscle cells and red blood cells. Exercise will normally raise lactic acid levels. Conditions of oxygen deprivation (for example shock, heart failure, lung disease) will trigger anaerobic metabolism within muscle tissue resulting in lactic acid build up in the tissues. Normal lactic acid levels are 4.5 to 19.8 mg/dl. (25 Jun 1999) |
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| lactic acid bacteria | <microbiology> A group of Gram-positive, non-sporing bacteria which carry out a lactic acid fermentation of sugars. It includes species of Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus and Streptococcus. See: lactic acid fermentation. (25 Jun 1999) |
| lactic acid dehydrogenase | <enzyme> An enzyme with 5 forms: LDH-1 is in the heart, its blood level can rise when heart muscle is damaged. Other forms can be found in the liver, brain, kidney, skeletal muscle and bone. A useful blood test in the evaluation of many disease processes, including heart attack, liver disease, muscular dystrophy and bone disease. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lactic acid fermentation | <biochemistry> A type of fermentation carried out by lactic acid bacteria in which sugar (for example lactose, glucose, pentose) are converted either entirely (or almost entirely) to lactic acid (homolactic fermentation) or to a mixture of lactic acid and other products (heterolactic fermentation). (09 Oct 1997) |
| lactic acid level | <investigation> A test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the blood. (25 Jun 1999) |
| lactic acid oxidative decarboxylase | A flavoprotein oxidoreductase catalyzing oxidation (with O2) of l-lactate to acetate plus CO2 and water. Synonym: lactic acid oxidative decarboxylase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lactic | <physiology> Of or pertaining to milk; procured from sour milk or whey; as, lactic acid; lactic fermentation, etc. <biochemistry, physiology> Lactic acid, a sirupy, colourless fluid, soluble in water, with an intensely sour taste and strong acid reaction. There are at least three isomeric modifications all having the formula C3H6O3. Sarcolactic or paralactic acid occurs chiefly in dead muscle tissue, while ordinary lactic acid results from fermentation. The two acids are alike in having the same constitution (expressed by the name ethylidene lactic acid), but the latter is optically inactive, while sarcolactic acid rotates the plane of polarization to the right. The third acid, ethylene lactic acid, accompanies sarcolactic acid in the juice of flesh, and is optically inactive. Lactic ferment, an organised ferment (Bacterium lacticum or lactis), which produces lactic fermentation, decomposing the sugar of milk into carbonic and lactic acids, the latter, of which renders the milk sour, and precipitates the casein, thus giving rise to the so-called spontaneous coagulation of milk. Lactic fermentation. See Fermentation. Origin: L. Lac, lactis, milk: cf. F. Lactique. See Lacteal, and cf. Galactic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| lactic acidemia | The presence of dextrorotatory lactic acid in the circulating blood. Synonym: lactacidemia. Origin: Lactic acid + G. Haima, blood (05 Mar 2000) |
| lactic acidosis | <biochemistry, physiology> Acidosis caused by accumulation of lactic acid more rapidly than it can be metabolised. It may occur spontaneously or in association with diseases such as diabetes mellitus, leukaemia, or liver failure. (25 Jun 1999) |
| lactic dehydrogenase | <enzyme> The enzyme that catalyses the formation and removal of lactate according to the equation: pyruvate + NADH = lactate NAD. <cell culture> The appearance of lactic dehydrogenase in the medium is often usedas an indication of cell death and the release of cytoplasmic constituents. Acronym: LDH (25 Jun 1999) |
| Abel's bacillus | Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Ozaenae See: Klebsiella ozaenae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abortus bacillus | A species of the genus brucella whose natural hosts are cattle and other bovidae. Other mammals, including man, may be infected. Abortion and placentitis are frequently produced in the pregnant animal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| acne bacillus | A bacteria isolated from normal skin, intestinal contents, wounds, blood, pus, and soft tissue abscesses. It is a common contaminant of clinical specimens, presumably from the skin of patients or attendants. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bacillus | <bacteria> A genus of bacteria of the family Bacillaceae, including large aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, spore forming, rod shaped cells, the great majority of which are gram-positive and motile. The genus is separated into 48 species, of which three are pathogenic or potentially pathogenic and the remainder are saprophytic soil forms. Many organisms historically called Bacillus are now classified in other genera. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Bacillus amyloliquefaciens | A highly amylolytic species of soil bacteria that produces subtilisin. (05 Mar 2000) |