Glossary

Glossary
Adjuvant	A substance that, when added to a medicinal agent, speeds or improves its action (auxiliary remedy).
Aerotolerant species	Able to survive in the presence of oxygen. This term especially applies to facultative anaerobes, which don't actually require oxygen to live but are not harmed by its presence.
Ampicillin	Penicillin derivative with broad spectrum activity.
Anerobes	A microorganism that either does not require oxygen or actually cannot live in the presence of oyxgen.
Antiserotonin	Serotonin is a neurotransmitter whose serum levels increase during migraine headache. The normal range is 101 to 283 ng/ml and an antiserotonin helps to maintain these levels.
Aphthous stomatitis	A type of benign mouth ulcer often caused by injury to the mucosal lining of the oral cavity, viral infection or vitamin deficiency. Inflammation of the oral mucosa, due to local or systemic factors may involve the buccal and labial mucosa, palate, tongue, floor of the mouth and the gingivae.
Atherogenic	Having the capacity to start or accelerate the process of atherogenesis (the formation of lipid deposits in the arteries).
Atherosclerosis	The progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries over time. This is known to occur to some degree with aging, but other risk factors that accelerate this process have been identified. These factors include: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and family history for atherosclerotic disease.
Azoreductase	An enzyme produced by fecal bacteria which is implicated in the formation of aromatic amines from procarcinogens such as nitrites. These amines can be converted into cancer causing compounds (N-hydroxy and nitroso compounds) in the body tissues.
B-galactosidase	a class of enzymes which cuts the glycosidic bond between the sugar galactose and another sugar molecule (of a different type than galactose) at the b position.
Bacteriocins	Exotoxins, often plasmid coded, produced by bacteria and which kill other bacteria not eukaryotic cells). Colicins are produced by about 40% of E. coli strains: colicin E2 is a DNA ase, colicin E3 an RNA ase.
Bifidobacteria	A group of lactic acid producing microorganisms that constitute a numerically major part of the gastrointestinal microflora in humans.
Broxyquinoline	Drug which is commonly used as an amoebicide and in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections.
Carcinogenesis	The generation of cancer from normal cells, correctly the formation of a carcinoma from epithelial cells, but often used synonymously with transformation, tumorigenesis.
Decarboxylation	Removal of the -COOH group from a compound resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide and water.
Deconjugation of bile salts	The bile salts (sodium glycocholate and sodium taurocholate) help in the emulsification of fats by forming micelles with dietary cholesterol and phospholipids. During deconjugation, bile salts are converted to the corresponding bile acids, resulting in the breakdown of the micelles and reducing cholesterol absorption.
Dextrorotatory	A chiral molecule which rotates plane-polarized light to the right.
Diacetyl	A flavor compound present in lactic fermented products, particularly milk products
Dyspepsia	The impairment of the power of function of digestion, usually applied to epigastric discomfort following meals.
Eczema	A pruritic papulovesicular dermatitis occurring as a reaction to many endogenous and exogenous agents. It is characterised in the acute stage by erythema, oedema associated with a serous exudate between the cells of the epidermis (spongiosis) and an inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis, oosing and vesiculation and crusting and scaling and in the more chronic stages by lichenification or thickening or both, signs of excoriations and hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation or both. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of dermatitis.
Enterohepatic circulation	Of or involving the intestine and liver.
Eubiosis	The balance between beneficial bacteria and potentially harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract
Facultatively	optionally
Flatulence	The presence of excessive amounts of air or gases in the stomach or intestine, leading to distention of the organs.
Glossitis	Inflammation of the tongue.
Glucuronide	A substance produced by attaching glucuronic acid to another substance with glycosidic bonds.
Glycopeptide	A peptide covalently linked to a sugar or polysaccharide
Hepatic coma and precoma	A condition of severe end-stage liver dysfunction that is accompanied by unresponsiveness (coma). A feature of hepatic encephalopathy.
Hepatic encephalopathy	A condition which is used to describe the deleterious effects of liver failure on the central nervous system. Features include confusion ranging to unresponsiveness (coma). A common cause is alcoholic cirrhosis. Treatment includes the binding and elimination of ammonia in the intestinal tract. General life support including respiratory support and cardiovascular support may also be required.
Heterofermentative	Microorganisms that produce only 50% lactic acid and considerable amounts of ethanol, acetic acid and carbon dioxide while fermenting glucose.
Homofermentative	Microorganisms that produce more than 85% lactic acid while fermenting glucose.
Hypercholesterolemia	Abnormal levels of serum cholesterol - Serum cholesterol > 200 mg/dL (5.18 mmol/L). High risk 240 mg/dL (6.22 mmol/L) or more. High density lipoprotein fraction of cholesterol (HDL) is protective, low density lipoprotein (LDL) is atherogenic
Hypolipidemic	Lowered serum lipid levels
Immunoglobulins	A specific protein substance that is produced by plasma cells to aid in fighting infection. Some immunoglobulins (gamma globulin) take part in various immune responses of the body to bacteria or foreign substances (allergens, tumor or transplanted tissue). Examples include IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE.
Immunosuppressive	Any chemotherapeutic agent which also has the effect of suppressing the immune system. Most often these agents will reduce the absolute number of white blood cells in the bloodstream.
Intestinal microflora	Microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract
Inulin	A polysaccharide of variable molecular weight (around 5 kD), that is a polymer of fructofuranose. Widely used as a marker of extracellularspace, an indicator of blood volume in insects (by measuring the dilution of the radio label) and in food for diabetics.
Lacbon	Sporulating lactobacillus preparation containing L. sporogenes from the Sankyo Co. Ltd. Japan, supplied as powder (100 million L. sporogenes/g) or tablets (containing 50 million L. sporogenes**/g).
Lacris	Spore-bearing Lactobacillus preparation (Nakayama’s spore bearing bacillus) containing 5000 million spores per gram, from the Sankyo Co. Ltd., Japan, available in various grades for use in foods and feeds.
Lactic dehydrogenase	The enzyme that catalyses the formation and removal of lactate according to the equation: pyruvate + NADH = lactate NAD. The appearance of LDH in the medium is often used as an indication of cell death and the release of cytoplasmic constituents.
Lactoperoxidase	Peroxidase enzyme from milk that finds an important use in generating active iodine as a nonpermeant radiolabel for membrane proteins.
Leucorrhea	A discharge of a white, yellowish, or greenish, viscid mucus, resulting from inflammation or irritation of the membrane lining female reproductive system.. Origin: Leuco- + Gr. "rei^n to flow.
Levorotatory	A chiral molecule which rotates plane polarized light to the left
Lyophilization	Freeze drying
Microecology	The immediate physical and chemical surroundings of a microorganism
Mutagens	An agent that can cause an increase in the rate of mutation, includes X-rays, ultraviolet irradiation (260 nm) and various chemicals.
MyconipÒ	*Tablets containing L.sporogenes* for use in the management of vaginal infections.**
Neosporin	Commonly used antibiotic drug containing neomycin and polymyxin B.
Neurologic	Pertaining to neurology or to the nervous system.
Nitroreductase	An enzymes produced by fecal bacteria which is implicated in the formation of aromatic amines from procarcinogens. These amines can be converted into cancer causing compounds such as N-hydroxy and nitroso compounds in the body tissues.
Orotic acid	Intermediate in the de novo synthesis of pyrimidines. Linked glycosidically to ribose 5' phosphate, orotate forms the pyrimidine nucleotide orotidylate, that on decarboxylation at position 5 of the pyrimidine ring yields the major nucleotide uridylate (uridine 5' phosphate).
Pessaries	Rubber or plastic devices that are placed into the vagina to help support the pelvic structures. These may be medicated to treat infections.
Procarcinogen	Precursor of a cancer causing compound. For example, nitrites used in food procesing can be converted to nitrosamines which may cause cancer, n the gastrointestinal tract..
Prophylaxis	The prevention of disease, preventive treatment. Origin: Gr. prophylassein = to keep guard before
Protozoal	Caused by a very diverse group comprising some 50,000 eukaryotic organisms that consist of one cell. Because most of them are motile and heterotrophic, the Protozoa were originally regarded as a phylum of the animal kingdom. Protozoa are now usually classed as a Sub Kingdom of the Kingdom Protista. A protozoan of gastrointestinal significance is Entamoeba histolytica which causes amoebic dysentery.
Retroperitoneal	Behind or posterior to the peritoneum
Salmonellosis	*Food borne infection with Salmonella* species which results dysentery and gatrointestinal discomfort.**
Shigellosis	*Food borne infection with Shigella dysenteriae* reesulting in dysentery and the accompanying gastrointestinal discomfort**
SporolacÒ	Tablets containing L. sporogenes*
Sporulation	The act or process of forming spores; spore formation.
Taxonomical	The theories and techniques of naming, describing, and classifying organisms, the study of the relationships of taxa,including positional changes which do not involve changes in the names of taxa. The taxonomic hierarchy is, from top to bottom: kingdom, phylum (for animals) or division (for plants and fungi), class, order, family, genus, species.
Thermostable	Does not degrade on exposure to higher temperatures
Trehalose	A disaccharide sugar (342 D) found widely in invertebrates, bacteria, algae, plants and fungi, formed by the dimerisation of glucose.
Tumorigenesis	Generation of tumors. A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division that is uncontrolled and progressive, also called a neoplasm. Tumors perform no useful body function. They may be either benign (not cancerous) or malignant.
Ulcerations	The formation or development of an ulcer.
Urease	An enzyme that breaks urea downinto carbon dioxide and ammonia, its typically used to measure urea concentrations.
Urticaria	Chronic hives : a rash with the following characteristics: red to pink in color, shape varies from small bumps to blotchy or streaky areas, very itchy, and appearing and disappearing at irregular time intervals - when they disappear, they do so without a trace. The condition is often accompanied by inflammation of the lips, tongue and hands.
Vaginitis	Inflammation of the vaginal mucosa, that results from infection with Candida (yeast), Trichomonas or Gardnerella vaginalis. Symptoms include vaginal pain, itching and a foul discharge.
Weanling	young animal in the stage of gradual dietary change from mother’s milk to varied food intake.

* The taxonomical classification was revised in 1939 in the seventh edition of the Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology to B. coagulans, although some researchers continued to use the original name.