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Definitions A through B
Adjuvant: A substance that enhances the
immune-stimulating properties of a vaccine or the effects of a drug.
Adverse event: In a clinical trial, an unwanted
effect detected in participants. The term is used whether or not the effect can be
attributed to the vaccine or drug under study.
Adverse reaction (side effect): In a clinical
trial, an unwanted effect detected in participants and attributed to a drug or vaccine.
AIDS: The late stage of HIV disease, characterized
by a deterioration of the immune system and a range of opportunistic infections and
malignancies.
Amino acids: Substances of which proteins are made.
Antibodies (immunoglobulins): Infection-fighting
proteins produced by B cells. Antibodies bind to antigens.
Antigen: Any material that elicits an immune
response.
Anti-idiotype: An antibody that is the mirror image
of another antibody.
Apoptosis: Cellular suicide, also known as
programmed cell death. HIV may induce apoptosis in both infected and uninfected immune
system cells.
Arm: A group of participants in a clinical trial,
all of whom receive the same treatment, intervention or placebo.
Attenuated: Weakened or decreased. For example, an
attenuated virus can no longer produce disease but might be used as a vaccine.
B cell: A white blood cell (lymphocyte) of the
immune system. B cells produce proteins called antibodies.
Baculovirus: A virus of insects used in the
production of some HIV vaccines.
Baseline: The first or starting measurements in a
study.
Blinded study: A clinical trial in which
participants are unaware as to whether or not they are in the experimental or control arm
of the study. See double-blind.
Binding antibody: An antibody that attaches to some
part of HIV. Binding antibodies may or may not adversely affect the virus.
Booster: A second or later dose of a vaccine given
to increase the immune response to the original dose.
Breakthrough infection: An infection that occurs in
a volunteer during the course of a vaccine trial.
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