| immune suppression | Suppression of the immune response by some compound or agent. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| immune surveillance | <immunology> The hypothesis that lymphocyte traffic ensures that all or nearly all parts of the vertebrate body are surveyed by visiting lymphocytes in order to detect any altered self material, for example mutant cells. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immune system | <immunology> The body system, made up of many organs and cells, that defends the body against infection, disease and foreign substances. The immune system is often stimulated in specific ways to fight cancer cells. (16 Dec 1997) |
| immune thrombocytopenia | Thrombocytopenia associated with antiplatelet antibodies. See: isoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia, autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immune thrombocytopenic purpura | <haematology> A low number of platelets in the blood, which is common in people with HIV, but often resolves as immune deficiency worsens. HIV-related ITP usually does not have serious consequences. Its cause has not been definitely determined. Treatment with AZT frequently alleviates the condition. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immune tolerance | The specific failure of a normally responsive individual to make an immune response to a known antigen. It results from previous contact with the antigen by an immunologically immature individual (foetus or neonate) or by an adult exposed to extreme high-dose or low-dose antigen, or by exposure to radiation, antimetabolites, antilymphocytic serum, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immune-response gene | <molecular biology> Any of several genes of the major histocompatibility complex that control the immune response of lymphocytes to specific antigens. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunifacient | Making immune after a specific disease. Origin: L. Immunis, exempt, + faciens, making, pr. Part. Of facio (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunisation | <immunology> A process that increases an organisms reaction to antigen and therefore improves its ability to resist or overcome infection. <technique> A technique used to induce immune resistance to a specific disease in humans (or other mammals) by exposing the individual to an antigen in order to raise antibodies to that antigen. (13 Oct 1997) |
| immunisation therapy | <immunology> Medical treatment with antiserum and antigenic substances such as vaccines. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunise | To render immune. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunity | <immunology> The condition of being immune, the protection against infectious disease conferred either by the immune response generated by immunisation or previous infection or by other nonimmunologic factors. Origin: L. Immunitas (13 Oct 1997) |
| immunity deficiency | Inabillity to mount a normal immune response. Immunodeficiency can be due to a genetic disease or acquired as in aids due to HIV. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity, active | Resistance to a disease agent resulting from the production of specific antibodies by the host, either after exposure to the disease or after vaccination. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunity, cellular | Those manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitised T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role. (12 Dec 1998) |