Immunology, infectious disease terminology

Question 1

define antigenic shift

Answer 1

a change in the antigen of an infectious particle, which means that host immune systems no longer recognise it
- usually occurs because of genetic changes in the infectious particle

Question 2

define antigen

Answer 2

any substance, when introduced to a host with an immune system, that induces an immune (antibody) response

Question 3

define aerosol

Answer 3

portmanteau of air and solution

it means any suspension of substances in air or other gas

Question 4

define airborne transmission

Answer 4

transmission of an infectious particle by aerosols ie particles suspended in air

Question 5

define droplet transmission

Answer 5

transmission of an infectious particle by an airborne fluid ie the particle is in a glob of fluid, and that fluid glob transmits

Question 6

define fomite transmission

Answer 6

transmission of an infectious particle by touching inanimate objects contaminated with infectious particle