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Opsonin
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Opsonin A substance, usually antibody or complement component, which coats a particle such as a bacterium and enhances phagocytosis by phagocytic cells.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Antibody
An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (eg, bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production.
Complement
A series of serum proteins involved in the mediation of immune reactions. The complement cascade is triggered classically by the interaction of antibody with specific antigen.
Bacterium
The singular of bacteria.
Phagocytosis
The engulfment of a particle or a microorganism by leukocytes.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Opsonization
Literally means "preparation for eating". The coating of a bacterium with antibody and/or complement that leads to enhanced phagocytosis of the bacterium by phagocytic cells.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Optic nerve hypoplasia
small and underdeveloped optic nerve. Optic nerve hypoplasia is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in infants and children. Optic nerve hypoplasia occurs in the early stages of fetal development, when the eyes are forming. The optic nerve never fully develops or, once developed, dies-off and reduces in size for unknown reasons. Recent evidence suggests that ganglion cell axons, that make-up the optic nerve, are not able to grow through the optic nerve head because certain chemical messengers are not present for directional growth from the eye to the brain. Optic nerve hypoplasia is variable, and can result in only minor vision problems to complete blindness. Usually, if the infant has nystagmus the optic nerve hypoplasia is more severe and vision is very much reduced. If the infant does not have nystagmus, the likelihood for significant vision loss in less. All infants with optic nerve hypoplasia should have a CT scan or MRI to look for midline brain defects that can result in body growth problems. If the infant does not have nystagmus, the chance of midline brain defects is small. If the infant has nystagmus, the chance of midline defects is greater. Some infants have optic nerve hypoplasia in one eye only. If only in one eye, the chance of midline defects is very small and the doctor may chose not to do a CT scan or MRI, depending on other factors. There is no treatment or cure for optic nerve hypoplasia.
Optic neuritis
Optic neuritis
An inflammation of the optic nerve usually with some loss of sight (may be temporary). It may signify a more serious neurological condition. A leading cause of optic neuritis is multiple sclerosis (MS).
Optometrist
OD; A licensed non-physician educated to detect eye problems with special emphasis on correcting refractive errors. Depending on training, an Optometrist may use diagnostic and therapeutic medicines. An Optometrist does not perform surgery
Ovarian cancer
Tumors or cancer of the ovary.
Opsonin
Opsonization
Literally means "preparation for eating". The coating of a bacterium with antibody and/or complement that leads to enhanced phagocytosis of the bacterium by phagocytic cells.
Obscenity
Imagery, ideation, narratives and other representations and actualities which offend and disgust the sensibilities of the perceiver. Imprecisely, the term is used to refer to sexually explicit material or media (SEM), including pornography, and also sexual actions or utterances that are traditionally classified as forbidden. As in erotica, what is perceived as obscene is usually idiosyncratic and is incongruent with the specifications of one's lovemap.
Olfaction
The sensory function of smelling.
Olfactophilia
One of the paraphilias of the fetishistic/talismanic type in which the sexuoerotic stimulus is associated with smell and odors emanating from parts of the body, especially the sexual and adjacent parts.
Oligospermia
Abnormally low number of sperm in the semen, with resultant relative infertility.
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Antibody
An infection-fighting protein molecule in blood or secretory fluids that tags, neutralizes, and helps destroy pathogenic microorganisms (eg, bacteria, viruses) or toxins. Antibodies, known generally as immunoglobulins, are made and secreted by B-lymphocytes in response to stimulation by antigens. Each specific antibody binds only to the specific antigen that stimulated its production.
Complement
A series of serum proteins involved in the mediation of immune reactions. The complement cascade is triggered classically by the interaction of antibody with specific antigen.
Bacterium
The singular of bacteria.
Phagocytosis
The engulfment of a particle or a microorganism by leukocytes.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Opsonization
Literally means "preparation for eating". The coating of a bacterium with antibody and/or complement that leads to enhanced phagocytosis of the bacterium by phagocytic cells.
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Optic nerve hypoplasia
small and underdeveloped optic nerve. Optic nerve hypoplasia is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness in infants and children. Optic nerve hypoplasia occurs in the early stages of fetal development, when the eyes are forming. The optic nerve never fully develops or, once developed, dies-off and reduces in size for unknown reasons. Recent evidence suggests that ganglion cell axons, that make-up the optic nerve, are not able to grow through the optic nerve head because certain chemical messengers are not present for directional growth from the eye to the brain. Optic nerve hypoplasia is variable, and can result in only minor vision problems to complete blindness. Usually, if the infant has nystagmus the optic nerve hypoplasia is more severe and vision is very much reduced. If the infant does not have nystagmus, the likelihood for significant vision loss in less. All infants with optic nerve hypoplasia should have a CT scan or MRI to look for midline brain defects that can result in body growth problems. If the infant does not have nystagmus, the chance of midline brain defects is small. If the infant has nystagmus, the chance of midline defects is greater. Some infants have optic nerve hypoplasia in one eye only. If only in one eye, the chance of midline defects is very small and the doctor may chose not to do a CT scan or MRI, depending on other factors. There is no treatment or cure for optic nerve hypoplasia.
Optic neuritis
Optic neuritis
An inflammation of the optic nerve usually with some loss of sight (may be temporary). It may signify a more serious neurological condition. A leading cause of optic neuritis is multiple sclerosis (MS).
Optometrist
OD; A licensed non-physician educated to detect eye problems with special emphasis on correcting refractive errors. Depending on training, an Optometrist may use diagnostic and therapeutic medicines. An Optometrist does not perform surgery
Ovarian cancer
Tumors or cancer of the ovary.
Opsonin
Opsonization
Literally means "preparation for eating". The coating of a bacterium with antibody and/or complement that leads to enhanced phagocytosis of the bacterium by phagocytic cells.
Obscenity
Imagery, ideation, narratives and other representations and actualities which offend and disgust the sensibilities of the perceiver. Imprecisely, the term is used to refer to sexually explicit material or media (SEM), including pornography, and also sexual actions or utterances that are traditionally classified as forbidden. As in erotica, what is perceived as obscene is usually idiosyncratic and is incongruent with the specifications of one's lovemap.
Olfaction
The sensory function of smelling.
Olfactophilia
One of the paraphilias of the fetishistic/talismanic type in which the sexuoerotic stimulus is associated with smell and odors emanating from parts of the body, especially the sexual and adjacent parts.
Oligospermia
Abnormally low number of sperm in the semen, with resultant relative infertility.
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This dictionary contains 19186 terms.
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