BioGaia

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Allergen Substance which the body recognizes as foreign and which may evoke an allergic reaction. (See antigen.)

American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) A bank for depositing reference cultures of various microorganisms.

Anaerobe, anaerobic Microorganism that thrives best or lives only without oxygen.

Facultative anaerobe Microorganism that can tolerate some oxygen in the environment.

Aerobe Microorganism that needs oxygen to be able to live and grow.

Antibody Substance produced by the body’s immune system to attack a specific foreign substance See also “Immunoglobulin”, “Allergens” and “Antigen”.

Antibiotic A pharmaceutical agent developed from living substances and which has antibacterial properties.

Antigen Any substance, either constituting a whole cell or particle, such as a bacterium or virus, or soluble substances such as toxins and proteins, recognized as foreign by the body. The result is an immune response targeted specifically against the antigen as such and mediated either through the action of specific antibodies or specifically sensitized T-lymphocytes, or both. (See “Allergen” and “Antibody”.)

Atrophic Referring to atrophy.

Atrophy Wasting of an organ or part of the body.

Vitamin B complex Vitamins, which are soluble in water including folic acid, pyridoxine (B6), riboflavine (B2), cyanocobalamin (B12) and others. Lack of vitamins from the B complex can have different results; for example lack of B2 affects a child's growth, and can cause anemia and inflammation of the tongue and mouth; lack of vitamin B12 causes anemia and neurological symptoms, which may be irreversible.

Bacterial vaginosis Deranged vaginal microflora, characterized by zero or low numbers of lactobacilli, which are replaced by bacteria like E. coli, enterococci, Prevotella or Gardnerella. Typical symptoms are vaginal discharge, an unpleasant fishy odour, with or without pain or itching around the vagina. Most women have bacterial vaginosis without any symptoms.

Bacteriocin Antimicrobial substance produced by e.g. lactic acid bacteria. Most bacteriocins have limited antimicrobial activity, which is directed towards bacteria of its own kind.

Bifidobacteria The genus Bifidobacterium is often considered in the same context as lactic acid bacteria, and shares some typical features, but is genetically unrelated and has a unique mode of sugar fermentation. Species of Bifidobacterium are besides species of Lactobacillus the most common bacteria to be used as probiotics. See Lactic Acid Bacteria.

Broad-spectrum Referring to the ability of controlling (inhibiting) the growth of many types of microorganisms.

Carcinogenic Causing cancer.

Coeliac disease Equivalent to gluten intolerance. As an immunologic reaction to the gluten protein, found in wheat and rye (and to similar proteins in barley and possibly oat), the villi surface of the small intestine becomes atrophic, which induces maldigestion. May lead to severe malnutrition in small children, if untreated.

Chemotherapy Cancer treatment using chemicals toxic to cancer cells.

Colitis Inflammation of the colon.

Colonize, colonization The ability of a bacterium to grow, divide and form a colony of bacteria in a certain environment.

Colony forming units (cfu) The common way of counting the number of bacteria when cultivated in a laboratory. Since each bacterium is so small and invisible without a microscope, it is easier to count the colonies that are formed by one bacterium when growing. Each colony is expressed as a Colony Forming Unit and is equivalent to a number of bacteria cells.

Culture Bacteria or tissues grown in a laboratory.

Cytokine Cytokines are small protein hormones that stimulate or inhibit many normal cell functions, such as cell growth and differentiation. Some regulate activities of the cells that carry out specific and non-specific defense responses, e.g. Interleukins, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Interferon (INF).

Cytotoxic Toxic to living cells.

Digestive tract Passage from mouth to the end part of the large intestine (anus), down which food passes and is digested.

Enteral nutrition Liquid nutrition administered through a soft and thin tube, which via the nose and throat is placed in the stomach or the small intestine. Enteral nutrition may also be taken orally, as a so-called sip feed drink.

Parenteral nutrition: The supply of nutrition as a solution given directly into the blood veins (intravenously) and not by use of the digestive tract.

Clinical nutrition: Delivery of energy and/or nutrient(s) in conjunction with disease, as part of the treatment to cure the disease, to prevent the development of malnutrition or to treat malnutrition.

Enterocyte An intestinal epithelial cell.

Enzyme Protein produced by living cells, which catalyzes (brings about) a biochemical reaction in the body.

Epithelium Epithelial, referring to epithelium. Layer(s) of cells covering an organ, including the skin and the lining of almost all hollow cavities of the body.

Etiology Study of the cause or origin of a disease.

Fat-soluble Which can dissolve in fat.

Fermenting, Fermentation (by lactic acid bacteria) The process whereby carbohydrates and dietary fibre are broken down by bacterial enzymes and converted into organic acids such as lactic acid and acetic acid. This process is used in e.g. the dairy industry to produce yogurt.

Follicle Tiny hole or sac in the body.

Functional Foods Foods that form a constituent of our daily diet and which contain ingredients with a specific, well-documented and beneficial effect on health beyond their general nutritional value.

Gastric Referring to the stomach.

Gastritis Inflammation of the stomach.

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract Referring to the stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.

Gingivitis Inflammation of the oral gums. Gingivitis associated with bony changes is referred to as periodontitis.

Granulocyte Type of leukocyte or white blood cell, which contains granules (small grains). See also “Leukocytes” and “Monocyte”.

Heterofermenters and homofermenters Lactobacilli can be divided into 2 groups; heterofermenters, including L. reuteri, and homofermenters. Homofermenters convert glucose into lactic acid whereas heterofermenters convert glucose to both lactic acid and acetic acid. This will result in a lower pH (increased acidity of the bowel contents), which makes conditions less favorable for growth of harmful bacteria, thus improving the bactericidal activity of e.g. L. reuteri.

Immunocompromized Decreased immune defences to disease.

Immunoglobulin Closely related proteins capable of acting as antibodies. So far five different immunoglobulin (Ig) classes have been detected; IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. See “Antibody”.

Immune response or immune reaction Defence response of the body against a substance or cell that is recognized as foreign. The response can either be mediated through the action of antibodies, then called a humoral response, or via the leukocytes or white blood cells and substances they release, so called cell mediated response.

In vivo In the living body or organism. See “In vitro”

In vitro Research or test done in the laboratory or test tube, rather than in a living organism. See “In vivo”.

Intestinal flora Synonyms are ”microflora”, ”microbiota” and ”bacterial flora”. Bacteria and other microbes, which naturally inhabit the intestines in healthy individuals. The so-called transient intestinal flora, however, is defined as consisting of microorganisms, e.g. ingested via food or water, that only temporarily inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.

Interleukin-10 Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine inducing anti-inflammatory responses. See “Cytokine”.

Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Referring to the group of bacteria, which produce lactic acid as the major end-product during the fermentation of carbohydrates. Among the better known genera of this group are Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus and Enterococcus. See also “Heterofermenters” and “Homofermenters”.

Lactobacillus – pl. lactobacilli Genus of Gram-positive friendly bacteria, which can produce lactic acid from glucose and other sugars, and which is naturally found in the digestive tract and the vagina. The term ‘lactobacilli’ is used when speaking generally about all the species included in the Lactobacillus genus.

Leukocyte White blood cell, which contains a nucleus but has no hemoglobin. In normal conditions the blood contains far fewer leukocytes than erythrocytes (red blood cells), but their numbers increase rapidly when infection is present in the body.

Lymphatic Referring to lymph. Lymph (fluid) Colorless liquid containing white blood cells, which circulates in the lymph system from all body tissues, carrying waste matter away from tissues to the veins.

Lymphocyte Type of mature leukocyte (white blood cell) formed by the lymph glands, and concerned with the production of antibodies (by B-lymphocytes) or the immune response involving complete white blood cells (T-lymphocytes). T-lymphocytes secrete substances called cytokines, which result in either an anti- or pro-inflammatory immune response. See “Cytokine”.

Metabolic Referring to metabolism.

Metabolism Chemical processes, which are constantly taking place in the human body and which are essential to life. Metabolism covers all changes that take place in the body; the building of tissue (anabolism); the breaking down of tissue (catabolism); the conversion of nutrients into tissue; the elimination of waste and water; the action of hormones, etc.

Microorganism or Microbe A very small single cell or organism including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi, which can only be seen with a microscope.

Microflora Metabolic Referring to metabolism.

Metabolism Chemical processes, which are constantly taking place in the human body and which are essential to life. Metabolism covers all changes that take place in the body; the building of tissue (anabolism); the breaking down of tissue (catabolism); the conversion of nutrients into tissue; the elimination of waste and water; the action of hormones, etc.

Microflora Synonyms are ”microbiota” and ”bacterial flora”. Bacteria and other microbes, which naturally inhabit the intestines in healthy individuals. The so-called transient intestinal flora, however, is defined as microorganisms, e.g. ingested via food or water, that only temporarily inhabits the gastrointestinal tract. Synonyms are ”microbiota” and ”bacterial flora”. Bacteria and other microbes, which naturally inhabit the intestines in healthy individuals. The so-called transient intestinal flora, however, is defined as microorganisms, e.g. ingested via food or water, that only temporarily inhabits the gastrointestinal tract.

Monocyte Type of non-granular leukocyte or white blood cell with a nucleus shaped like a kidney, which destroys bacterial cells. See also "Leukocyte" and "Granulocyte".

Morphology Study of the structure and shape of living organisms.

Mucosa In this context meaning the intestinal wall, including the mucus layer, which covers the epithelial cells.

Neonatal Referring to the first few weeks after birth.

Natural Killer cell A killer cell, a type of lymphocyte, with ability to impair and kill other cells including e.g. bacteria.

Nutrition The supply of nutrients to the body from digesting food.

Omeprazole Drug that is used to reduce the synthesis of acid in the stomach (proton pump inhibiotor). It is used in the treatment of e.g. dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection (in combination with antibiotics).

Pathogen Bacterium or microorganism which causes disease.

Peptide Compound formed by two or more amino acids. Amino acid: The building blocks of proteins. During the gut’s digestion of proteins, the end products are amino acids and peptides.

Peyer's patches Patches of lymphoid tissue on the mucous membrane of the small intestine, chiefly in the ileum. Peyer’s patches contain cells that help recognize new substances in the intestine as foreign and present these substances to cells of the immune system.

Periodontitis When inflammation of the gums is associated with bony changes. May lead to tooth loss.

Permeability The property or state of being permeable.

Permeable Permitting passage of a substance/substances.

Phagocytosis Destruction of bacteria cells and foreign bodies by phagocytes.

Phagocyte Cell, especially a white blood cell, which can surround and destroy other cells, such as bacteria cells. See also “Natural killer cell”.

Phenotypic Phenotypic, referring to ‘phenotype’, the physical appearance or makeup of an individual, here a bacterial species or strain.

Probiotic “Pro” meaning ‘for’ and “biotic” meaning ‘life’.

Prebiotic A range of non-digestible dietary supplements that selectively stimulate the growth or activities, or both, of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the colon mainly, thereby improving health. Prebiotics include: lactulose, lactitol, oligosaccharides (found in e.g. fruit, vegetables, milk and honey), and inulin.

Prophylactic Refers to preventive.

Protozoa, sing. protozoon Class of the most simple form of animals. Most species are unicellular and act as parasites. The species Cryptosporidium parvum is a common cause of diarrhoeal disease in AIDS patients.

Pylorus Opening at the bottom of the stomach leading into the duodenum.

Synbiotic An optimal combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic.

T-lymphocyte Also called T cell. Lymphocyte formed in the thymus gland (endocrine gland behind the breastbone). See also “Lymphocyte”.

Taxonomy (Classification) Principles of classification of microbes, plant and animal species.

Toxin Poisonous substance produced in the body by germs or microorganisms.

Urogenital Referring to the urinary and genital systems.

Vitamin K Vitamin found in green vegetables like spinach and cabbage. Several compounds show vitamin K activity and are important in the clotting of blood and the metabolism of the skeleton. Certain vitamin K compounds may also be important for brain functions.