Glossary Terms

A family of antimicrobial peptides stored in immune cells and released during infection—LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin.Cathelicidins are a

An antimicrobial peptide made by bacteria to kill competing bacteria—nisin is the most commercially important example.Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial

A protein your body makes that opens the gaps between intestinal cells—too much zonulin may contribute to ‘leaky gut’ conditions.Zonulin

A medication that is inactive when administered but gets converted into the active drug inside your body.A prodrug is a

Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye (the uvea)—it can cause pain, redness, and vision loss if untreated.Uveitis is

The cluster of symptoms—flushing, diarrhea, wheezing—caused by a neuroendocrine tumor releasing too much serotonin into the bloodstream.Carcinoid syndrome occurs when

The ongoing monitoring of drug safety after approval—watching for rare or delayed side effects that clinical trials were too small

Access to an unapproved drug for a seriously ill patient who has no other options—granted on a case-by-case basis outside

The protein that forms the structural mesh of blood clots—it polymerizes into long strands that trap blood cells and seal

The enzyme at the center of blood clotting—it converts fibrinogen into fibrin strands that form the structural mesh of a