antibody: Proteins produced by the body’s B cells as part of the immune response. These proteins are released into the blood supply when the body encounters an antigen, or foreign substance, to neutralize bacteria and other harmful substances.
birds: Refers to avian creatures or things related to birds.
cell: The smallest unit of an organism, consisting of a watery fluid enclosed by a membrane or wall. Animals are made up of thousands to trillions of cells, depending on their size.
dairy products: Items containing or related to milk, or a place designed for the sale and distribution of milk.
dolphin: Highly intelligent marine mammals, including killer whales, pilot whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
emerging infectious diseases: Diseases that suddenly become more prevalent among people and other living organisms, likely to increase in the future.
feces: Solid waste of the body containing undigested food, bacteria, and water.
feline: Relating to cats or their behavior.
ferret: A mammal belonging to the family including weasels, skunks, otters, and badgers.
influenza: A contagious viral infection causing fever and respiratory tract symptoms.
host: An organism or environment in which another organism exists, such as humans serving as hosts for infectious agents.
get infected: The spread of a disease from one organism to another.
mammalian: Animals with hair/fur, producing milk for young, and giving birth to live offspring.
National Institutes of Health: The largest biomedical research institution in the world, part of the U.S. government, consisting of 21 institutes and centers.
nerve: Long fibers transmitting signals throughout an animal’s body.
nervous system: Referring to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
olfactory bulb: Brain region receiving information from nasal olfactory nerves.
outbreak: Sudden occurrence of a disease in a group of individuals, or destructive natural events.
paralysis: Inability to intentionally move muscles in part of the body.
peer review: Process in which experts critique colleagues’ work before publication.
prey: Animal species eaten by others or to attack and eat other species.
protein: Compound made of amino acids, essential for living organisms.
duplicate: Copying something, as in the replication of a virus.
respiratory system: Involving breathing, including lungs, nose, throat, etc.
risk: Probable chance of something bad happening, or danger itself.
sea: Salty ocean or part of the ocean.
seizure: Uncontrollable brain activity causing changes in movement and behavior.
seed: Group of organisms able to reproduce and survive.
distortion: Organisms of the same species with distinct characteristics.
symptoms: Physical or mental indicators characteristic of a disease.
organization: Made of cells, different tissues performing specific functions in organisms.
characteristics: Inherited qualities or traits.
contagion; infection: Transmission of something or spreading of a disease or toxin.
mutant: Different forms or versions of something, such as genetic mutations.
virologist: Researcher studying viruses and diseases they cause.
virus: Small infectious particle consisting of genetic material surrounded by proteins, replicating by injecting genetic material into host cells.
Source: www.snexplores.org
