| species specificity | Restriction of a characteristic or response to the members of one species; it usually refers to that property of the immune response which differentiates one species from another on the basis of antigen recognition, but the concept is not limited to immunology and is used loosely at levels higher than the species. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| species tolerance | The insensitivity to a particular drug exhibited by a particular species. (05 Mar 2000) |
| species-specific | Applying only to a particular species, said of effects that vary depending on the species in question. (09 Oct 1997) |
| species-specific antigen | Antigenic components in the tissues and fluids of members of a species of animal, by means of which various species may be immunologically distinguished; e.g., serum albumin of horses is immunologically different from that of man, dogs, sheep, and so on. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific | 1. Pertaining to a species. 2. Produces by a single kind of microorganism. 3. A remedy specially indicated for any particular disease. 4. <immunology> Pertaining to the special affinity of antigen for the corresponding antibody. Origin: L. Specificus (18 Nov 1997) |
| specific absorbance | Absorbance per unit of concentration. See: specific absorption coefficient. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific absorption coefficient | Absorbance (of light) per unit path length (usually the centimeter) and per unit of mass concentration. Compare: molar absorption coefficient. Synonym: absorbancy index, absorptivity, extinction coefficient, specific extinction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific action | The action of a drug or a method of treatment which has a direct and especially curative effect upon a disease, e.g., the action of vitamin B12 in pernicious anaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific active immunity | See: acquired immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific activity | 1. <chemistry> The number of activity units (whatever is appropriate) per unit of mass, volume or molarity. 2. <radiobiology> Total activity of a given nuclide per gram of a compound, element or radioactive nuclide. Perhaps most often usage, in the context of radiochemicals, the number of microcuries per micromole. (16 Dec 1997) |
| specific anergy | A reduction of the normal or usual immunologic response resulting from a reaction to a specific allergen. Synonym: specific anergy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific antigens | Antigen's that characterise a single genus of microorganisms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific antiserum | See: antiserum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific capsular substance | A soluble type-specific polysaccharide produced during active growth of virulent pneumococci composing a large part of the capsule. Synonym: pneumococcal polysaccharide, soluble specific substance, specific soluble polysaccharide, specific soluble sugar. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific cause | A cause the action of which definitely produces the condition in question. (05 Mar 2000) |