Page 18 - 78 glossary of hivaids-related terms_opt

B2M
See: Beta-2 Microglobulin
B

Bactericide
A natural or man-made substance that kills bacteria.

Bacteriostatic
A natural or man-made substance that can prevent bacteria from
reproducing but cannot actually kill existing bacteria.

Bacterium
A microscopic organism consisting of one simple cell. Bacteria
occur naturally almost everywhere on earth, including in soil, on
skin, in the human gastrointestinal tract, and in many foods. Some
bacteria can cause disease in humans.

Baseline
An initial measurement (for example, CD4 count or viral load) made
before starting treatment or therapy for a disease or condition. In
people infected with HIV, the baseline measurement is used as a
reference point to monitor HIV infection.

Basophil
An infection-fighting white blood cell that causes inflammation in
response to a micro-organism or other foreign invader.

B Cell
See: B Lymphocyte

B-Cell Lymphoma
A type of cancer of the lymphatic tissue. People with HIV are more
prone to non-Hodgkin’s and other B-cell lymphomas, some of
which are considered AIDS-defining conditions in people with HIV.
See Also: Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)

16 HIV/AIDS Glossary