Inoculatie

Inoculatie is a term that refers to the introduction of a microorganism or substance into a living organism or a culture medium to initiate growth or an immune response. In the context of medicine, it most commonly refers to vaccination, where a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen, or a component of it, is introduced into the body to stimulate the immune system without causing disease. This process primes the immune system to recognize and fight off future infections by the actual pathogen. The term "inoculation" can also be used more broadly to describe the introduction of any foreign substance into a system for a specific purpose, such as introducing bacteria to a petri dish for scientific study. In agriculture, inoculation might involve introducing beneficial microorganisms to soil to improve plant growth. The core concept of inoculation is the intentional introduction of something to provoke a reaction or establish a presence.