| specific parasite | A parasite that habitually lives in its present host and is particularly adapted for the host species. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| specific passive immunity | See: acquired immunity. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific pathogen-free organisms | Animals or humans raised in the absence of a particular disease-causing virus or other microorganism. Less frequently plants are cultivated pathogen-free. (12 Dec 1998) |
| specific reaction | The phenomena produced by an agent that is identical with or immunologically related to the one that has already caused an alteration in capacity of the tissue to react. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific serum | A monovalent antiserum, i.e., one obtained by inoculating an animal with one antigen or species or strain of bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific soluble polysaccharide | 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 soluble sugar | 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 therapy | Therapy aimed at the cause(s) of a disease process, as opposed to symptomatic therapy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific transduction | Transduction in which the bacteriophage strain is able to transfer only some, or only one, of the donor bacterium genes. Synonym: specific transduction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specific urethritis | An obsolete term for gonorrhoea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specificity | The ability of the immune response to interact with individual antigens. (09 Oct 1997) |
| specificity constant | Ratio of the maximum velocity (Vmax) or kcat to the true Km value for a specific substrate in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| specify | To mention or name, as a particular thing; to designate in words so as to distinguish from other things; as, to specify the uses of a plant; to specify articles purchased. "He has there given us an exact geography of Greece, where the countries and the uses of their soils are specified." (Pope) Origin: F. Specifier, or OF. Especifier, fr. LL. Specificare. See Species, -fy. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| specillum | A probe or small sound. Origin: L. A probe, fr. Specio, to look at (05 Mar 2000) |
| specimen | <microscopy> A piece or portion of a sample selected for examination. The specimen may, or may not be representative, whereas the sample may have been selected to be representative. (05 Aug 1998) |