kapseldunud

Kapseldunud is an Estonian adjective meaning encapsulated or enclosed within a capsule. The term is used across several disciplines, including biology, medicine, chemistry, and materials science, to indicate the presence of a protective outer layer or a process that forms such a layer. It derives from kapsel (capsule) with the suffix -dunud, marking a past participle.

In microbiology, kapseldunud describes bacteria that possess a capsule outside their cell wall. The capsule, often composed of polysaccharides or sometimes polypeptides, can protect the organism from desiccation and help it evade phagocytosis by the host immune system, contributing to virulence. Capsule presence is important for serotyping and can influence pathogenicity. Examples of encapsulated bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Vaccines frequently target capsule polysaccharides (in conjugate formulations) to stimulate protective immunity against encapsulated strains.

Beyond microbiology, the term is used in pharmacology, food technology, and materials science to describe substances protected by a capsule or microcapsule. Microencapsulation techniques are employed to control release, protect sensitive ingredients, mask taste, or improve stability. In materials science, encapsulation can shield core materials from environmental factors or enable controlled delivery of additives.

See also: kapsel, kapseldumine, mikroenkapsulatsioon.