biological terms

Aerosol (Biological Terms)

Aerosol is a fine liquid or solid particles suspended in a gas; for example, fog or smoke.

Antibiotic

A substance that inhibits the growth of or kills microorganisms.

Antisera

The liquid part of blood containing antibodies, that react against disease causing agents such as those used in BW.

Bacteria

Single-celled organisms that multiply by cell division and that can cause disease in humans, plants, or animals.

Biochemicals

The chemicals that make up or are produced by living things.

Biological warfare agents

Living organisms or the materials derived from them that cause disease in or harm to humans, animals, or plants, or cause deterioration of material.

Biological agents may be used as liquid droplets, aerosols, or dry powders.

Biological warfare

The intentional use of biological agents as weapons to kill or injure humans, animals, or plants, or to damage equipment.

Bioregulators

Biochemicals that regulate bodily functions. Bioregulators that are produced by the body are termed “endogenous.”

Some of these same bioregulators can be chemically synthesized.

Causative agent

The organism or toxin that is responsible for causing a specific disease or harmful effect.

Contagious

Capable of being transmitted from one person to another.

Culture

A population of micro-organisms grown in a medium.

Decontamination

The process of making people, objects, or areas safe by absorbing, destroying, neutralizing, making harmless, or removing the hazardous material.

Fungi

Any of a group of plants mainly characterized by the absence of chlorophyll, the green colored compound found in other plants.

Fungi range from microscopic single-celled plants (such as molds and mildews) to large plants (such as mushrooms).

Host ( biological terms)

An animal or plant that harbors or nourishes another organism.

Incapacitating agent

Agents that produce physical or psychological effects, or both, that may persist for hours or days after exposure, rendering victims incapable of performing normal physical and mental tasks.

Infectious agents

Biological agents capable of causing disease in a susceptible host.

Infectivity

(1) The ability of an organism to spread.

(2) The number of organisms required to cause an infection to secondary hosts.

(3) The capability of an organism to spread out from the site of infection and cause disease in the host organism.

Infectivity also can be viewed as the number of organisms required to cause an infection.

Line-source delivery system

A delivery system in which the biological agent is dispersed from a moving
ground or air vehicle in a line perpendicular to the direction of the prevailing wind. (See also “point-source delivery system.”)

Mycotoxin

A toxin produced by fungi.

Microorganism

Any organism, such as bacteria, viruses, and some fungi, that can be seen only with a microscope.

Nebulizer

A device for producing a fine spray or aerosol.

Organism

Any individual living thing, whether animal or plant.

Parasite

Any organism that lives in or on another organism without providing benefit in return.

Pathogen

Any organism (usually living) capable of producing serious disease or death, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Pathogenic agents

Biological agents capable of causing serious disease.

Point-source delivery system

A delivery system in which the biological agent is dispersed from a
stationary position.

This delivery method results in coverage over a smaller area than with the line-source system. (See also “line-source delivery system.”)

Route of exposure (entry)

The path by which a person comes into contact with an agent or organism; for example, through breathing, digestion, or skin contact.

Single-cell protein

Protein-rich material obtained from cultured algae, fungi, protein and bacteria, and often used as food or animal feed.

Biological Terms – Spore

A reproductive form some micro-organisms can take to become resistant to environmental conditions, such as extreme heat or cold, while in a “resting stage.”

Toxicity

A measure of the harmful effect produced by a given amount of a toxin on a
living organism.

The relative toxicity of an agent can be expressed in milligrams of toxin needed per kilogram of body weight to kill experimental animals.

Toxins

Poisonous substances produced by living organisms.

Vaccine

A preparation of killed or weakened microorganism products used to artificially induce immunity against a disease.

Vector

An agent, such as an insect or rat, capable of transferring a pathogen from one organism to another.

Venom

A poison produced in the glands of some animals; for example, snakes, scorpions, or bees.

Virus

An infectious micro-organism that exists as a particle rather than as a complete cell.

Particle sizes range from 20 to 400 manometers (one-billionth of a meter).

Viruses are not capable of reproducing outside of a host cell.