Anthrax is an acute infection caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus Anthracis, a microbe that lives in soil, and mainly in livestock. Humans are infected through skin contact, ingestion, or inspiration of spores from infected animals or animal products. The most common form of infection in humans is cutaneous anthrax which affects the skin and pulmonary anthrax which affects lungs, characterized by ulcerative skin lesions and severe breathing problems, respectively.
Abcess is a localized collection of pus, that develops as an immune reaction to infection. The skin surrounding the inflamed area is usually red and painful.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a severe immunological condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS increases susceptibility to opportunistic infections and cancers due to the defect in cell-mediated immune response.
Anaerobes are organisms that can live and grow in complete or partial absence of oxygen.
An antibiotic is a drug that inhibits the growth of or destroys other organisms within the host during infection. Antibiotics are non-toxic to the host cell.
Antibodies or immunoglobulins are immune proteins found in blood or lymph, and produced by B lymphocytes. As an immune defense against foreign substances (antigens). they combine with the very antigen that triggers their synthesis to neutralize their action.
Antigens or immunogens are substances that can stimulate an immune response by producing antibodies against it. Antigens can be proteins or polysaccharides of microorganisms, toxins, foreign blood cells of transplanted organs, etc.
Aspergillus is a genus of fungus that includes several common molds growing on decaying plants. Aspergillosis is a common disease caused by Aspergillus characterized by cough, fever, and chest pain.
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