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Vaccinia: meaning, definitions and examples

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vaccinia

 

[ vakˈsinΔ“Ι™ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical term

Vaccinia is a virus that causes a mild disease similar to smallpox. It is mainly used in the production of the smallpox vaccine and has a key role in vaccination strategies against various poxviruses. The virus is related to the variola virus that causes smallpox.

Synonyms

cowpox virus

Examples of usage

  • The vaccinia virus is crucial for the development of vaccines.
  • Vaccinia can induce immunity against smallpox.
  • Researchers studied vaccinia to understand poxvirus pathology.

Etymology

The term 'vaccinia' comes from the Latin word 'vacca,' meaning 'cow,' due to its association with the cowpox virus. The use of vaccinia as a vaccine originated in the late 18th century when Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who contracted cowpox did not get smallpox. Based on his observations, he used material from cowpox lesions to successfully immunize individuals against smallpox, effectively laying the groundwork for the use of vaccinia in vaccination. The practice of vaccination evolved significantly over time, with vaccinia being an integral component in the eradication of smallpox, the first disease to be eliminated through human efforts.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,276, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.