inoculación

Inoculación refers to the introduction of a disease-causing agent or other foreign material into a living organism. Historically, the term was most commonly associated with the intentional introduction of material from a mild form of a disease, such as smallpox, into a healthy individual to induce a less severe infection and thereby confer immunity. This practice predates modern vaccination and was a precursor to it.

In a broader biological context, inoculation can also describe the process of introducing microorganisms or other biological entities into a culture medium or a host organism for experimental purposes, propagation, or to induce a specific biological response. For example, in microbiology, a researcher might inoculate a petri dish with bacteria to study their growth. In agriculture, inoculation can involve introducing beneficial microbes, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, to plant roots to enhance nutrient uptake.

The principle behind inoculation, particularly in the context of disease, is to expose the immune system to a weakened or modified version of a pathogen. This exposure allows the immune system to develop defenses (antibodies) without causing significant illness. When the individual is later exposed to the actual pathogen, their immune system is already prepared to fight it off, providing protection. While the term is less frequently used in modern medicine than "vaccination," the underlying concept of deliberately introducing biological material to elicit an immune response remains fundamental to many preventive health strategies.