vec
tor
Plural
vectors
1
a person, animal, or microorganism that carries and transmits a disease from one host to another
A vector refers to an organism that carries and transmits an infectious agent from one host to another. Vectors can be of different types, including insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas, as well as rodents and other animals. These organisms play a crucial role in the spread of diseases, particularly those caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Some of the diseases that are transmitted by vectors include malaria, dengue fever, Lyme disease, and bubonic plague. Vectors can transmit the infectious agent through biting, feeding, or contact with contaminated material. Controlling vectors is an important strategy for preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
- Mosquitoes are the primary vector of malaria.
- The flea acts as a vector for the plague bacterium.
- Humans can inadvertently become vectors for viral infections.
- Humans can inadvertently become vectors for viral infections.
- The virus relies on a vector to reach new hosts.
Synonyms:
2
an ordered set of numbers that describes both magnitude and direction, commonly used to represent quantities like displacement, velocity, or force in physics and engineering
- In physics, force is often represented as a vector, considering both its magnitude and direction.
- Velocity, a vector quantity, describes an object's speed and the direction in which it is moving.
- Acceleration, a vector in kinematics, represents the rate of change of velocity over time.
- Wind velocity is a vector quantity, accounting for both the speed and direction of the wind.
- The force exerted by a tensioned rope can be represented as a vector in mechanics.
3
a virus, plasmid, or other agent used to deliver genetic material into a cell
- The lab used a viral vector to insert the gene into the cell.
- Plasmid vectors are common tools for gene cloning.
- A retroviral vector can integrate DNA into the host genome.
- The vector ensures efficient delivery of the genetic payload.
- Scientists tested multiple vectors for gene therapy.