| ACB | antibody-coated bacteria; aortocoronary bypass; arterialized capillary blood; asymptomatic carotid b... |
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| Bact, bact | Bacterium; bacterium, bacteria |
| CWDF | cell wall-deficient form [bacteria] |
| ICNB | International Committee on Nomenclature of Bacteria |
| ICPB | International Collection of Phytopathogenic Bacteria |
| endosymbiotic bacteria | Bacteria that establish a symbiotic relationship within a eukaryotic cell. For example the nitrogen fixing bacteria of legume root nodules. See: endosymbiont hypothesis. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| enteric bacteria | A large group of Gram negative rod-shaped bacteria characterised by a facultatively aerobic metabolism. Many of them are commonly found in the intestines of animals. (09 Oct 1997) |
| faecal coliform bacteria | <gastroenterology, microbiology> Aerobic bacteria found in the colon or faeces, often used as indicators of faecal contamination of water supplies. (09 Oct 1997) |
| flesh-eating bacteria | A strain of Group A streptococcus which, in severe cases, can destroy tissue as fast as surgeons can cut it out. The rapid destruction of tissue caused by these bacteria is localised, so it is unlikely to be caused by a general overstimulation of the immune system by, for example: superantigen exotoxin A. Instead, the invasive strains of strep A probably have other toxin such as exotoxin B, an enzyme (i.e. A cysteine protease) that destroys tissue by breaking down protein. (09 Oct 1997) |
| 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) |
| lysogenic bacteria | <microbiology> A bacterium which contains in its genome the DNA of a virus which is lying dormant, passively letting itself be replicated by the bacterium whenever the bacterium replicates its own genome (a lysogenic virus), but able to reactivate and destroy the bacterium at a time of the virus's choosing (becomes a lytic virus). (15 Oct 1997) |
| absolute CD4 count | The number of helper T-lymphocytes in a cubic millimeter of blood. With HIV, the absolute CD4 count declines as the infection progresses. The absolute CD4 count is frequently used to monitor the extent of immune suppression in persons with HIV. Also called a T4 count. (12 Dec 1998) |
| absolute eosinophil count | <haematology, investigation> A measurement (cells per microlitre) of the number of eosinophils in a blood specimen. This measurement is useful in the evaluation of autoimmune disease, allergies, eczema, leukaemia, asthma and hay fever. Normal absolute eosinophil counts are less than 350 cells/mcl (microlitre). (27 Sep 1997) |
| Addis count | A quantitative enumeration of the red blood count, white blood count, and casts in a 12-hr urine specimen; used to follow the progress of known renal disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Arneth count | The percentage distribution of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, based on the number of lobes in the nuclei (from 1 to 5). See: Arneth index. (05 Mar 2000) |
| b and t cell count | A test that measures the respective quantities of B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. This test is often performed in the analysis of an immune deficiency disorder. Normal values include: 68 to 75% of total lymphocytes are T lymphocytes and 10 to 20% are B lymphocytes. Increased T-cell counts can indicate infectious mononucleosis, acute lymphocytic leukaemia or multiple myeloma. Increased B lymphocytes can indicate chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia or Di George syndrome. Decreased T-cells may indicate congenital T-cell deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome or AIDS. Decreased B-cells may indicate acute lymphocytic leukaemia or a congenital immunoglobulin deficiency disorder. (27 Sep 1997) |
| blood cell count | A count of the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes per unit volume in a sample of venous blood. A complete blood count (cbc) also includes measurement of the haemoglobin, haematocrit, and erythrocyte indices. (12 Dec 1998) |
| blood count | <haematology, investigation> The determination of the proper number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are present in the patients blood. Acronym: FBC (16 Dec 1997) |
| red blood cell count | A normal value is 4.6-6.2 million RBC's per cubic millimetre of blood. This number can increase in cases of dehydration (fluid loss) or severe lung disease. Interestingly, red blood cell counts are much higher in those who live at high altitude, because of the increased demand for oxygen carrying capacity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| CD4/CD8 count | The ratio of the number of helper-inducer T lymphocytes to cytotoxic-suppressor T lymphocytes, as measured by monoclonal antibodies to the CD4 surface antigen found on helper-inducer T-cells, and the CD8 surface antigen found on cytotoxic-suppressor T-cells. In healthy individuals, the H/S ratio ranges between 1.6 and 2.2.When the body mounts an immune response, as against a virus or a transplant, the ratio is almost always reduced because of a decrease in the number of circulating helper-inducer cells and an increase in suppressor cells. The CD4/CD8 count has been used to monitor for signs of organ rejection after transplants, and more recently has become a tool for assessing the relative condition of HIV patients. With the CD4 absolute count and the CD4 lymphocyte percentage, it provides a way of gauging the progression from HIV to AIDS. (05 Mar 2000) |