IMMUNODEFICIENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does immunodeficient mean? 

• IMMUNODEFICIENT (adjective)
  The adjective IMMUNODEFICIENT has 1 sense:

1. incapable of developing an immune response following exposure to an antigen

  Familiarity information: IMMUNODEFICIENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• IMMUNODEFICIENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Incapable of developing an immune response following exposure to an antigen

Context example:

immunodeficient rodents

Antonym:

immunocompetent (capable of developing an immune response following exposure to an antigen)

Derivation:

immunodeficiency (immunological disorder in which some part of the body's immune system is inadequate and resistance to infectious diseases is reduced)

 Context examples 

A question about whether an individual is currently immunodeficient.

(Have Immunodeficiency, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunodeficient individuals are less able to mount an attack on cancerous cells.

(Immunodeficiency and Cancer, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunodeficient mice may be derived by inbreeding or genetic engineering.

(Immunodeficient Mouse, NCI Thesaurus)

C. lari is associated in recurrent gastroenteritis in children, causes septicemia and enteritis in immunodeficient patients and is commensal in healthy seagulls, birds, mussels and oysters.

(Campylobacter lari, NCI Thesaurus)

C. concisus is normally found in the human oral cavity and is a commensal part of the normal flora of the human gastrointestinal tract, but is associated with gingival inflammation, periodontal lesions, Crohn's disease in immunodeficient patients, and is considered responsible for infective gastroenteritis and septicemia seen uniquely in children.

(Campylobacter concisus, NCI Thesaurus)

The Animal Barrier Shared Resource provides for acquisition and maintenance of both pathogen-free and infected laboratory animals, including immunodeficient strains, while permitting supervised access for investigators, stable husbandry conditions, and individualized daily health care for animals.

(Barrier Animal Facility Shared Resource, NCI Thesaurus)