Glossary

V

Validation

In biological research, validation refers to providing evidence for the suitability of a method or substance or for the validity of a theory.

Vancomycin

Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat infections with gram-positive bacteria (e.g. streptococci or staphylococci).

Viral load

Viral load is the quantity of virus in a given amount of patient’s blood.

Viremia

Viremia describes the (massive) presence of viruses in the blood.

Virostatic agents

Virostatic agents are drugs to fight viral infections.

Virulence

Virulence is a pathogen’s ability to cause disease. It determines the degree of pathogenicity.

Virus blocker

A virus blocker is a substance that inhibits viral replication.
Z

Zika virus

The Zika virus is a flavivirus that is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti and causes fever, rashes, joint pains and eye inflammation in humans.

Zoonosis

A zoonosis is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa.