L

Last-resort antibiotic

A last-resort antibiotic is used to treat infections with bacteria that are resistant against the common antibiotics or, in cases of severe infections, where an effect must be ensured.

Latency

Latency refers to a viral state in which the virus is integrated in the DNA of its host cell and in which no viral proteins are produced.

Lectin

Lectins are common proteins that bind to carbohydrates and that play a role, amongst other things, in the formation of bacterial biofilms.

Lentivirus

Lentiviruses form a genus within the retrovirus family. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the best-known examples.

Liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis can develop as a consequence of chronic hepatitis, a fatty liver or alcohol abuse. Liver cells are destroyed and replaced by connective tissue.

Lymphocyte

Lymphocytes are white blood cells that make up part of the adaptive immune system.