Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - A federal agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that works with partners across the United States to ensure public health—through health promotion; prevention of disease, injury, and disability; and preparedness for new health threats.⏎
Adaptive Mutation - A mechanism through which certain cells can increase the rate in which genetic mutations occur, often in response to stress. This mechanism may help explain how bacteria develop resistance to certain antibiotics.⏎
Autoimmune Disease - An umbrella term for a range of conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the body.⏎
Beta-lactam Antibiotics - One of several families of antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, and monobactams, containing a molecular ring-shaped structure made up of three carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom.⏎
Category A Agents - A class of biological agents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention views as posing the highest priority risk to U.S. national security.⏎