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Definitions I through L
Incidence: The occurrence of some event, such as
the number of individuals who get a disease, divided by a total given population per unit
of time.
Immune complex: Combination of antibodies and
antigens. May also contain complement proteins.
Immunity: Natural or acquired resistance to a
specific disease. Immunity may be partial or complete, long-lasting or temporary.
Immunogen: A substance capable of provoking an
immune response. Also called an antigen.
Immunogenicity: The ability of an antigen or
vaccine to stimulate an immune response.
Immunoglobulin: Also called antibody.
Immunotherapy: A treatment that stimulates the
body's immune system.
Inclusion/exclusion criteria: The medical or social
reasons why a person may or may not be accepted into a clinical trial.
IND (investigational new drug): The status of an
experimental drug after the FDA agrees that it can be tested in people.
Informed consent: The process by which prospective
subjects voluntarily agree to participate in a clinical trial after receiving information
about risks and benefits as well as alternatives.
In vitro: A test system outside a living organism
(but often derived from a living organism) in which a biologic process can be observed.
In vivo: Testing within a living organism, e.g.,
human or animal studies.
IRB (Institutional Review Board): A committee of
physicians, statisticians, community advocates and others that reviews trial protocols
before they can be initiated at any site. IRBs ensure that the trial is ethical and that
the rights of human subjects are adequately protected.
Isolate: a particular strain of HIV taken from a
patient.
LAI: A group of closely related HIV-1 isolates that
includes the LAV, IIIB and BRU strains of HIV. Used in HIV vaccine development.
Lymphocyte: A white blood cell. Present in the
blood, lymph and lymphoid tissues. See B cell and T cell.
Lymphoid organs: Include tonsils, adenoids, lymph
nodes, spleen and other tissues. Act as the body's filtering system, trapping invaders and
presenting them to squadrons of immune cells that congregate there.
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