Acute infection Infection with a short duration in the order of days

Acute-type inflammation Inflammation with a host response dominated by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Adaptation An evolutionary change in the genotype and thereby phenotype of an organism that leads
to a higher fitness in a particular environment

Adaptive immune response Slow response (weeks) with high specificity and memory. The humoral
components include antibodies and cytokines. The cellular components include lymphocytes and dendritic
cells

Adaptive tolerance The transient induction of resistance mechanisms only in the presence of antibiotics.
Can be either antibiotic-specific or non-specific. The mechanism is not inherited

Aerobe bacteria Bacteria that grow best with oxygen

Altruistic behaviour The actor suffers a loss from the behaviour; the recipients fitness increases

Anarobe bacteria Bacteria that cannot tolerate oxygen. Two forms exist: the obligate anarobes, to whom
oxygen is toxic, and the facultative anarobes, which can tolerate oxygen, but grow better without it

Antibody Y-shape protein produced by plasma cells (white blood cells) that is used by the immune system
to identify and neutralize foreign objects such as bacteria and viruses. Can be found in either a free or a
membrane-bound form.

Antigen A structural substance which is a target for the receptors of an adaptive immune response, i.e. T
cells, B cells or antibodies

Arthrodesis The artificial induction of joint ossification. After healing the two adjoining bones are fused and
no motion takes place between them

B cell A type of lymphocyte in the humoral immunity of the adaptive immune system. Can bind to antigen

Bacteremia A condition where bacteria are found in the blood

Bacteria One-cell organisms without nucleus or other organelles

Biofilm An aggregation of bacteria imbedded in a matrix

Calor Swelling

Caries The formation of cavities in the teeth, caused by demineralization of tooth substance which happens
when pH drops below 5.5

Cement spacer A "filler" implanted between the bone and the implant

CF Cystic fibrosis

Chemoautotrophs Bacteria that use inorganic chemical reactions as energy resource

Chronic wounds Can be defined as an ulcer or wound older than three months of age

Chronic-type inflammation Inflammation with a host response dominated by macrophages or

lymphocytes

Cilia A slender protuberance that project from the cell body. Cilia can be either non-motile or motile, as in
the respiratory epithelium

Co-evolution When evolution is triggered by the presence of another organism

Cohort A group of subjects who share a particular event

Conductive zone in the lung The upper part, which transport the inhaled and exhaled air back and forth
to the respiratory zone

Corneocytes The dead cells of the stratum corneum, with attached microorganisms

CRP (C-reactive protein) A marker of an inflammatory response

Crystal violet assay Assessing the quantity of attached bacteria in wells of a plate by applying and
measuring a soluble stain bound to the bacteria

CVC Central venous catheter

Cyanobacteria Bacteria that can make photosynthesis

Cystic fibrosis A lethal inherited lung disease, which results in dehydrated viscous mucus in the lungs that
is very difficult to clear mechanically, i.e. by coughing

Denitrification The process where nitrogen is converted to free nitrogen and released into the air

Dental plaque Dental biofilm

Dolor Pain

Edema Accumulation of fluid in the body

Epidermis The top layer of the skin. Consists of several strata from the uppermost stratum corneum (horny
layer) to the basal layer with proliferating cells

Erosion of teeth Demineralization of the teeth due to intake of fizzy acidic drinks

Eukariots Cells with nucleus

Evolution The process of adaptation leading phenotypes with higher fitness, favoured by natural selection,
to be found in elevated frequencies

Facultative anarobes Can tolerate oxygen, but grow better without it

Filter biofilms Biofilms are grown on top of a micropore filter, which is lying on top of an agar plate, and
enables transfer of bacteria onto fresh agar plates

Fitness The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in a specific environment or under specific
conditions

Flagell A protein tail that they can use to move around, like the tail of a tadpole

Functio laesae Disturbed function

Generation time The time it takes for one bacteria to become two

Genotype The underlying genetic background giving rise to certain, specific traits expressed by this specific
genotype and thereby determining the phenotype

Gram staining A method of differentiating bacteria into Gram-positive and Gram-negative Wikipedia entry

Gram-negative bacteria Bacteria defined by having two membranes and the cell wall located between the
two membranes

Gram-positive bacteria Bacteria defined by having the cell wall outside the membrane

Granulocytes Category of white blood cells characterized by the presence of granules in their cytoplasm.
There are four types: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and mast cells

Haematogenous infection Bacterias are spread by the blood stream

Halophiles Bacteria that live in very salty environments

Hygiene hypothesis The hypothesis that our newly acquired sterile life-style has brought imbalance to
the pattern and diversity of microbes that we are normally exposed to, and that this is the causative factor
behind the increased incidence of diseases, e.g. diabetes, obesity and asthma

Hypoxia Low oxygen levels

Immune response The bodys response to antigens. Can be devided into the innate response and the
adaptive response

Implant related infections Infection in arthroplasties, artificial joints

In vitro Studies with cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context

In vivo Studies on whole, living organisms

In silico Studies via computer simulation

Infected osteosyntesis Internally or externally fixated fractures and chronic wounds

Inflammatory response The reaction to tissue damage. The inflammation is mediated within seconds by
chemical signaling. The cellular component include polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and macrophages

Innate immune response The fastest response, with only little specificity and no memory. The humoral
components include the complement system, cytokines and bactericidal peptides. The cellular component
include polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), the macrophages, Gamma-Delta T-cells and epithelial cells

Ischemia Reduced blood supply and thereby insufficient oxygen supply

Joint aspiration A procedure using a syringe to collect synovial fluid from a joint capsule

Kin selection An individual increases its fitness, not just by maximising its own reproduction, but the
reproduction of its genes even if they happen to be in other individuals

Lymphocytes White blood cells. There are three major types: T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells

Lymphoid tissue Sites of lymphocyte production

Macrophage White blood cell important in chronic infections. Act by phagocytosis of microbes, cellular
debris, and foreign substances

Matrix The scaffold that binds bacteria together in the biofilm. The matrix is composed of extracellular DNA,
proteins polysaccharides, and other molecules

MBEC Minimal biofilm eradication concentration

MBIC Minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration

MIC Minimum inhibitory concentration

Microbiome, human All bacteria living inside or on the human body

Minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that will
eradicate a biofilm

Minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that will
inhibit the visible growth of a biofilm

Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) The lowest concentration of an antimicrobial that will inhibit
the visible growth of a microorganism

MPC Mutant preventive concentration

Mutant preventive concentration (MPC) The concentration of antibiotic at the infection site that do not
select for resistant mutants

Mutant selection window The range of concentrations above MIC but below MPC

Mutation A genetic change. Can be either adaptive or non-adaptive

Mutually beneficial behaviour Fitness of both actor and recipient increases

Natural selection The process in nature leading to the dominance of the more fit phenotypes over the less
fit ones

Neuropathy Disease in the nerve system

Neutrophils White blood cells involved in the immediate immune response. They act by phagocytosis of
foreign particles, damaged cells, or cellular debris. Eventually turn into pus cells and die

Nitrogen fixation The process where N2 is extracted from the air and convertet into ammonium

Non-inflammatory defence The ongoing mechanisms that maintain the self-cleaning capacity of the body

Nucleotides The buildingstones in DNA and RNA

Obligate anarobes Bacterias to whom oxygen is toxic

Opportunistic pathogen A pathogen that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host, but take
advantage of certain situations, like a compromised immune system

Osteomyelitis Infection in bony tissue

Otitis media Infection of the middle ear

Oxidative stress Production of peroxides and free radicals. Can in bacteria be caused by exogenic factors
(e.g. antibiotics or ROS from activated immune cells) or by endogenic factors in the biofilm

Pathogenesis The mechanism that causes a disease

PD Pharmacodynamics

Periprosthetic Structures closely connected to an implant

Phagocytes Cells that ingest harmful foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells. Will either kill or
present parts of the ingested particle on the surface to other cells in the immune system. Include many
types of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and mast cells

Phagocytose The engulfment of one cell (or part of a cell) by another

Pharmacodynamics Describes the effect of the drug on the body or on microorganisms

Pharmacogenetic Different genetic backgrounds that will influence PK, mainly due to changes in
metabolism

Pharmakokinetics Descibes the distribution of the drug, i.e. the concentration of free antibiotics

Phenotype The characteristics or traits of an organism, such as its morphology, development, biochemical
or physiological properties and behavior

Photoautotrophs Bacteria that use sunlight and inorganic material as energy resource

Physical tolerance Tolerance depending on the three-dimensional structure of bacterial cells and matrix.
The matrix components such as DNA and polysaccharides binds some types of antibiotics, which results in a
delayed diffusion of the antibiotic molecules in biofilm

Physiological tolerance Tolerance determined by the metabolic state of the bacteria growing in biofilms,
e.g the ability to grow in a low-oxygen environment

PK Pharmacokinetics

Planktonic bacteria Bacteria found as free moving single cells

PMN Polymorphonuclear leukocyte

Pneumatized air cell system Aereated spaces in the temporal bone containing large surface of mucosal
sterile epithelium

Primary immunodeficiency Patients born with particular deficient components of the immune response

Procariotes Cells without nucleus

Quorum sensing Cell-to-cell signalling via diffusible signal molecules

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) Is formed when the PMNs consumes molecular oxygen by arming oxygen
molecules with electrons

Resident bacteria Live more or less as permanent residents. Are normally commensal or harmless

Resistance Resistance to single or to several antibiotics. Is heritable, due to mutation, and is not reversible.

Respiratory burst The mechanism by which the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are generating
oxidative stress

Respiratory zone in the lung The lower part where the gas exchange takes place

Rubor Redness

Selfish behaviour The fitness of the actor increases; the recipient suffers a loss

Semi solid model Bacteria are kept in a semi solid matrix composed of digested meat powder, horse blood
and serum, to mimic the host components

Sepsis A whole-body inflammation caused by an infection

Spiteful behaviour Both actor an recipient suffer a loss

Stratum corneum The horny layer of the epidermis (skin)

Suppurative Creating pus

Synergy When the outcome of combined effects are higher than simple addition of effects

Syntrophy The phenomenon that one species are living on the by-products of another species

T cell A type of lymphocyte that plays a central role in cell-mediated immunity

T helper cell Assist other white blood cells in immunologic processes, including maturation of B cells and
activation of cytotoxic T cells and macrophages

Thermophiles Bacteria that live in very high temperatures

Tolerance Tolerance to single or several antibiotics. Is not heritable

Transient bacteria Not permanent residents

Ulcer The cause is internally applied. In real life, causes are normally both internal and external

Wild type The typical form of a species as it occurs in nature

Wound The cause is externally applied. In real life, causes are normally both internal and external