gnotobiotic


gno·to·bi·ot·ic

(nō'tō-bī-ot'ik), Denoting germ-free or formerly germ-free organisms in which the composition of any associated microbial flora, if present, is fully defined. [see gnotobiota]

gnotobiotic

Biology
adjective Referring to a system to which only preselected components, organisms and nutrients are introduced. Gnotobiotic organisms are either experimental models (e.g., mice with naïve immune systems), or “experiments of nature”, in which the natural immune defence is grossly defective (e.g., severe combined immune deficiency); prolonged survival of the host requires complete avoidance of exposure to pathogens.

gno·to·bi·ot·ic

(nō'tō-bī-ot'ik) Denoting germ-free or formerly germ-free organisms in which the composition of any associated microbial flora, if present, is fully defined.

gnotobiotic

literally ‘known life’; typically referring to an environment or animal that is essentially germ-(microorganism-) free, or one in which the microbial flora present is known, usually because it has been deliberately introduced.