Glossary

In immunodiagnostics, diagnoses are made by means of immunological markers.

Immunomodulation refers to the modification of the immune system. It can be weakened or stimulated.

Immunomonitoring allows assessing a person’s immune status.

Immunopathology deals with disorders of the immune system. These include autoimmune diseases, allergies and immunodeficiences.

The aim of immunotherapy is to influence the body’s own immune system in order to fight infections or cancer.

Influenza is a disease of the airways that is caused by the influenza virus.

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 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.

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