Glossary

A biobank collects, processes and stores biospecimens under clearly regulated legal and ethical conditions.

A biofilm is a community of microorganisms that adhere to a surface or to one another and are embedded in a protective matrix they form themselves.

Biomarkers are objectively measurable characteristics that can provide information about normal biological processes, disease processes, or responses to treatment or other exposures.

The BK virus is a widespread human polyomavirus that can cause serious complications in immunocompromised individuals. 

Carbapenems are broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics used primarily to treat severe bacterial infections.

The cccDNA is a special, ring-shaped DNA structure that appears in the cell nucleus during the replication of some viruses and can persist there.

CD4 T lymphocytes are a subgroup of T lymphocytes that play an important role in regulating the adaptive immune response.