Category: A

Chemical synthesis (i.e., manufacture) of a known oligosaccharide (structure). For example, a synthesis of a defmed-sequence oligosaccharide (molecular) “branch” at a specific site on a glycoprotein in order to “cover up” an antigenic site on that glycoprotein molecule (e.g., so the glycoprotein can be used as a pharmaceutical).  

An application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to begin testing/studies of a new drug for animals (e.g., livestock), that might (eventually) lead to its FDA approval.  

A chemical reaction with a negative standard free energy change (i.e., a “downhill” reaction). A reaction which releases energy (exothermic; in the form of heat).  

Potent antimicrobial protein produced by neutrophils (a type ofwhite blood cell).  

The pharmacophore (i.e., active ingredient) in secretions of the tropical neem tree, which resists insect depradations.  

The “tightness of fit” between a given antibody’s combining site and the antigenic determinant that it combines with. The firmness of the combination of antigen with antibody.  

All chromosomes except the sex chromosomes. A diploid cell has two copies of each autosome. Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; in each human cell, 22 pairs of chromosomes are autosomes; the remaining pair of the 23 are the sex chromosomes. Any of the 22 ordinary paired chromosomes in humans, distinguished from the…

A disease in which the body produces an immunogenic (i.e., immune system) response to some constituent of its own tissue. In other words the immune system loses its ability to recognize some tissue or system within the body as “self and targets and attacks it as if it were foreign. Autoimmune diseases can be classified…

The action of a gene product (a molecule) that either inhibits (negative autogenous control) or activates (positive autogenous control) expression of the gene that codes for it. The presence of the product either causes or stops its own production.  

An antifungal antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces aureofaciens. At least one company has incorporated the gene for this antibiotic (which acts against wheat take-all disease) into a Pseudomonasfluorescens, to be used to confer resistance to wheat take-all disease. This is done by allowing the bacteria to colonize the wheat’s roots. In this way…