acidic Acid forming; acid—having a pH of less than 7.
acute Short term.
alkaline Relating to, containing or having the properties of an alkali or alkali metal; basic or having a pH of more than 7.
anaphylactic shock A serious, often life-threatening allergic reaction that is characterized by low blood pressure, shock and difficulty breathing.
angiogenesis The process of developing new blood vessels.
animal model An animal sufficiently like humans in its anatomy, physiology or response to a pathogen to be used in medical research in order to obtain results that can be extrapolated to human medicine.
antibacterial Destructive to or inhibiting the growth of bacteria.
antibody A protein with a specific structure designed for an antigen; tags an antigen to help the immune system identify and destroy it; can be produced due to first exposure or can be made from memory of a previous exposure.
antibiotic A substance produced by or a semisynthetic substance derived from a microorganism and, in dilute solution, able to inhibit or kill another microorganism.
antigen A molecule whose shape triggers the production of antibodies (immunoglobulins) that will bind to the antigen. A foreign substance capable of triggering an immune response in an organism.
antimicrobial Destroying or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, especially pathogenic microorganisms.
apoptosis A form of cell death in which a programmed sequence of events leads to the elimination of cells without releasing harmful substances into the surrounding area.
atopic disease Allergic diseases such as asthma and eczema produced upon exposure, especially by inhalation, to an environmental antigen.
bacteria Any of the unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms of the class Schizomycetes, which vary in terms of morphology, oxygen and nutritional requirements, and motility; may be free-living, saprophytic, or pathogenic in plants or animals.
bacteriocins Proteins produced by bacteria that are toxic to other species.
Bifidobacteria Rod-shaped, gram-positive, non-acid-fast, non-spore-forming, non-motile bacterium that is a genus of the family Actinomycetaceae. It inhabits the intestines and feces of humans as well as the human vagina.
bifidogenic A product that stimulates Bifidobacteria growth or activity. carcinogen A substance that promotes the development of cancer.
carcinogenic Any substance, radionuclide or radiation that is an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or in the facilitation of its propagation. This may be due to genomic instability or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes.
CFU Colony-forming units; a measurement used to count bacteria/ microbes. Scientists call any microbes that can be counted a colony.
colonization The formation of compact population groups of the same type of microorganism; colonies that develop when a bacterial cell begins reproducing.
colon The large intestine; the last section of the intestinal tract; responsible for forming, storing and excreting waste matter.
cytokine Small proteins produced by cells that have an effect on cell-to-cell interaction, communication and behavior of cells.
dermatitis Inflammation of the skin.
duodenum The first or proximal portion of the small intestine, extending from the pylorus to the jejunum, so called because it is about 12 finger-lengths long.
dysbiosis The state of a disordered microbial ecology that causes disease.
enteric General term for the intestines.
epithelial Any animal tissue that covers a surface, or lines a cavity or the like, and that, in addition, performs any of various secretory, transporting or regulatory functions.
eradicate To destroy utterly.
etiology Cause or underlying reason for disease development.
gastroenteritis Inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
genera Plural of genus.
genus The taxonomic classification used as a prefix to a species, such as the genus homo sapiens.
humoral immunity The component of the immune system involving antibodies that are secreted by B cells and circulate as soluble proteins in blood plasma and lymph.
hygiene hypothesis Suggested by David Strachan in 1989 that the increasing rates of allergy-based diseases in developed countries is due to infants’ decreased exposure to microbes and allergens due to increased hygiene standards.
fermentation An energy-yielding process whereby organic molecules serve as both electron donors and electron accepters.
flagella A hair-like projection on some bacteria cells that provides movement for the cell.
hypocholesterolemic To cause a decrease in blood cholesterol levels.
ileum The last portion of the small intestine; found between the duodenum and the colon; hosts enzyme-controlled actions that break down food.
immunological Of or relating to immunology.
jejunum The portion of the small intestine that extends from the duodenum to the ileum.
lactic acid bacteria Bacteria that produce lactic acid as a metabolic waste product and secrete it into their environment.
Lactobacilli Milk bacteria; normally found in the mouth, intestinal tract and vagina.
leaky gut syndrome A condition in which fluids, antigens and microbes can breach the intestinal lining and enter the circulatory system.
lumen The inner open space or cavity of a tubular organ; as of a blood vessel or an intestine.
lymphocyte White blood cells; more specifically the cellular mediators of immunity that constitute 20% to 30% of the white blood cells in normal human blood.
lymphoid tissue Area of cells that is rich in white blood cells such as macrophages; includes the lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils and adenoids, and the thymus.
membrane A thin layer of phospholipids (fat-like molecules) that line the outside of cells and organelles (compartments found within a cell).
microbe Another term for microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, yeasts, fungi, protozoa and algae.
microbial Of, relating to, caused by, or being microbes.
microflora The bacteria and fungi that inhabit an area.
microorganism A microscopic organism; those of medical interest include bacteria, viruses, algae, fungi and protozoa. An organism of microscopic size; not visible to the human eye.
necrotisis Death of living tissue.
pancreas An organ lying below and behind the stomach that secretes bile salts containing cholesterol and enzymes to help with the digestion of food. It secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon (both regulate blood sugar).
pathogen Any disease-producing microorganism.
pathogenic Capable of causing disease.
phenotype The outward, physical manifestation of an organism.
placebo Treatment given in a blinded study that has no effect on the outcome of the subjects; commonly referred to as the “nothing treatment” or the “sugar-pill.”
prebiotic Nondigestible food ingredients that may beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and or metabolic activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon and thus improve health.
probiotic Live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.
omeprazole A proton pump-inhibitor drug commonly used to treat gastric reflux.
rumen The first of four stomachs in ruminant animals, such as cattle or deer.
secondhand smoke A combination of the smoke that is released from the end of a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers.
short chain fatty acids A small fat found in the human body that contains less than eight carbons.
species A taxonomic category subordinate to a genus (or subgenus) and superior to a subspecies or variety, composed of individual organisms possessing common characteristics distinguishing them from other categories of individual organisms of the same taxonomic level.
Staph: Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that can become resistant to antibiotic treatments.
strain A subset of a bacterial species differing from other bacteria of the same species by some minor, but identifiable, difference. A strain is a population of organisms that descends from a single organism or pure culture isolate. Strains within a species may differ slightly from one another in many ways. An example is B. lactis BB12.
Streptococci A group of spherical, gram-positive bacteria. In addition to strep throat, Streptococcus species are responsible for many cases of meningitis, bacterial pneumonia, endocarditis, erysipelas and necrotizing fasciitis. Many Streptococcal species are non-pathogenic. Streptococci are also part of the normal flora of the mouth, skin, intestine and upper respiratory tract of humans.
subspecies A taxonomic group that is a division of a species. symbiotic A close, long relationship between two different organisms which may be beneficial.
synbiotic Nutritional supplements containing probiotics and prebiotics.
synergistically Relating to synergy; acting together; enhancing the effect of another force or agent.
taxinomical Relating to taxonomy; the theories and techniques of naming, describing and classifying organisms.
transient Short-lived; passing; not permanent.
translocation The movemet of particles in the intestinal tract across the intestinal lining and into the bloodstream.
toxicology The study of the nature, effects and detection of poisons and the treatment of poisoning.
toxicological Of or relating to toxicology.
urogenital Anatomical reference pertaining to the urinary and genital apparatus.
villi Of-the-minute, worm-like processes on certain membranes, especially on the mucous membrane of the small intestine, that help the body to absorb nutrients.
virus shedding A process by which viruses are expelled from the body; a form of disease transmission.
VSL#3 A group of probiotic strains used in combination in clinical trials: L. casei, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, B. longum, B. breve, B. infantis and S. thermophilus.
visceral sensory system Referring to the internal organs of the body; a neurological structure that supports communication between the internal organs and the brain.