| Term/Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| Bioassay |
A test used to determine the biological activity of a substance, such
as a drug or hormone, by comparing its effects with those of a
standard preparation on a culture of living cells. |
| Biopharmaceuticals |
Protein-based drugs |
| Cell line |
Cells that grow and replicate continuously in culture, and are derived from, and therefore genetically identical to, a single common ancestor cell. |
| Chemokine |
Any of various cytokines produced in acute and chronic inflammation that mobilise and activate white blood cells. |
| CHO |
Chinese hamster ovary cells are commonly used for the production of recombinant proteins that require post-translational modifications. |
| Cytokine |
An immune modulating protein which can act upon immune and other cells to guide their function, for example in fighting infection by a pathogen. There are around 200-300 cytokines produced naturally by humans, such as interleukins and lymphokines. |
| E. coli |
Escherichia coli is a bacterial organism that grows rapidly and is commonly used for the production of recombinant proteins. |
| EPO |
Erythropoietin is a protein that acts on bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells. |
| FDA |
US Food and Drug Administration. United States of America’s regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices. |
| Fibroblasts |
Cells that are capable of forming collagen fibres. |
| Glycoform |
A version of a protein with different glycosylation. Proteins that are glycosylated usually exist as multiple glycoforms. |
| Glycosylation |
Addition of sugar structures that are ubiquitously present as attachments in many proteins |
| GM-CSF |
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a protein that stimulates the production of granulocytes and macrophages by stem cells. |
| GMP |
Good manufacturing practice. The quality system regulation that includes requirements related to the methods used in, and the facilities and controls used for, designing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, storing, installing, and servicing of medical devices intended for human use. |
| Growth factor |
A protein that affects the growth of a cell or an organism, e.g., nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein involved in the growth of peripheral nerve cells. |
| Half-life |
The time required for the protein amount to fall to half its initial value |
| Hormone |
A protein produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity, such as growth or metabolism. |
| Human-expressed protein |
Protein made in human cells. |
| IL-6 |
Interleukin 6 is a protein that has a variety of functions including the induction of nerve cell differentiation |
| Immunogenic |
A substance that is capable of inducing an immune response. |
| In vitro |
Generally refers to an experiment that is conducted outside the body using cells or molecules. |
| In vivo |
Generally refers to an experiment that is conducted inside the body of an animal or human. |
| MS |
Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. |
| NDA |
New drug application is a request for authorisation from the FDA to administer an investigational drug or biological product to humans. |
| Neutralising antibodies |
An antibody that forms in response to a foreign protein and inhibits its effectiveness or accelerates it clearance from the body |
| NGF |
Nerve growth factor is a protein that stimulates the growth and differentiation of the sympathetic and certain sensory nerves. |
| NICNAS |
National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme. The Australian Government regulator for industrial chemicals. |
| Pegylated |
Addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to a protein, which is then described as pegylated. |
| Phosphorylation |
Addition of a phosphate group to a protein. |
| PTMs |
Post-translational modifications, are the chemical modifications of a protein. There are over 100 types, the most common of which is glycosylation. Other examples include phosphorylation, myristoylation/palmitoylation, ubiquitination, actetylation. |
| TGA |
Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australia’s regulatory agency for medical drugs and devices. |
| Thrombocytopenia |
A reduced platelet (thrombocyte) count. |
| TNF |
Tumor necrosis factor is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine, with effects on lipid metabolism, coagulation, insulin resistance and endothelial function. |