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Adjuvant

1. (Science: pharmacology) a substance that, when added to a medicine, speeds or improves its action which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy

2. (Science: immunology) a substance added to a vaccine to improve the immune response so that less vaccine is needed to produce a non-specific stimulator (for example, BCG vaccine) of the immune response.

Origin: L. Adjuvans = aiding Relating to something that is added but is not essential; an ancillary pump; an adjuvant discipline to forms of mysticism; The mind and emotions are auxilliary to each other.Enhancing the action of a medical treatment; the adjuvant action of certain bacteria.An additive that enhances the effectiveness of medical treatment.A modified substance that is intended to produce a desirable response. Adjuvants are implanted in viruses to weaken or kill them so that they can be used in immunisation so that the body can code for the respective antibodies in case of future infection.