Glossary
Glycoproteins
A molecule that consists of a carbohydrate plus a protein. Glycoproteins play essential roles in the immune system; almost all of the key molecules involved in the immune response are glycoproteins.
Haemophiliacs
People who are affected by a group of inherited bleeding disorders that cause abnormal or exaggerated bleeding and poor blood clotting.
Half Life
The time required for the activity of a substance taken into the body to lose half of its initial effectiveness.
Hepatocytes
Liver cell
Host Cell
A living cell invaded by or capable of being invaded by an infectious agent (e.g. bacterium or virus).
Icosahedral Protective Shell
A protective shell on the virus comprising of 20 faces
Immunosuppression
Suppression of the immune system. It may be deliberately induced with drugs.
Inflammation
Redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, heat and disturbed function of an area of the body
JAK- STAT Signalling
A signalling pathway that transmites information from chemical signals outside the cell, through the cell membrane and into gene promoters on the DNA in the nucleus which activates DNA transcription.
Jaundice
Yellow staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) by abnormally high blood levels of the bile pigment bilirubin. The yellowing extends to other tissues and body fluids.
Liver Biopsies
A procedure in which a small sample of the liver is removed for the diagnosis of abnormal liver conditions.
Negative Strand RNA
A single strand of RNA that is the negative or antisense strand which does not encode mRNA (messenger RNA).
Oxidative Damage
Damage due to oxygen radicals.
Pathogen
An agent of disease which includes infectious organisms. These include bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Portal Vein Hypertension
Increased pressure in the hepatic portal vein.