Vector - An organism (usually an arthropod such as a flea, mosquito, or tick) that carries an infectious agent from one host to another.⏎
Transition Zone - The area, sometimes referred to as an ecotone, encompassing the edges of two distinct ecosystems, such as the area where a forest intersects with grassland.⏎
Vaccine - A biological preparation that improves the immune system’s ability to recognize and destroy harmful infectious agents.⏎
Strain - A genetic variant or specific subtype of a microorganism, such as a virus or bacteria.⏎
Sterilization - The process of destroying all forms of life, including infectious agents, from a surface, fluid, or biological medium with the use of heat, chemicals, irradiation, high pressure, filtration, or some combination of these methods.⏎