Abbreviations Guide 2008

 

· Abbreviations should in general be avoided in the Abstract.

· There is no need to define abbreviations in the Abstract that are not used therein.

· After first use in full in the Abstract and main text, the genus within a bacterial/fungal name should thereafter be abbreviated in accordance with general practice.

 

For FEMS Journals, the abbreviation “ribosomal DNA” or “rDNA” should not be used, and should be replaced by “rRNA gene sequence” or similar.

The correct format should be followed consistently for abbreviations (h, min, s) and concentrations (such as mL, mL-1, not ml, /ml)

All the units used do not need clarification

 

Common abbreviations that do not need clarification

 

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid); cDNA (complementary DNA); mtDNA;

RNA (ribonucleic acid); cRNA (complementary RNA); rRNA (ribosomal RNA); mRNA (messenger RNA); tRNA (transfer RNA); RNAse (ribonuclease); DNAse (deoxyribonuclease);

AMP, ADP, ATP, dAMP, ddATP, GTP, etc.

ATPase, dGTPase, etc. (adenosine triphosphatase, deoxyguanosine triphosphatase, etc.);

PCR (polymerase chain reaction);

NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide); NAD+ (oxidized); NADH (reduced); NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate); NADPH (reduced); NADP+ (oxidized)

UV (ultraviolet); UV-A, UV-B;

Tris [tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane]; DEAE (diethylaminoethyl);

EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid); HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid);

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus);

ORF (open reading frame);

PFU (plaque-forming units); CFU (colony-forming units);

OD (optical density).

Abbreviations for cell lines (e.g., HeLa) also need not be defined.

 

Abbreviations that need explanation if in the main text but not in tables:

SD (standard deviation), SE (standard error), v/v (volume in volume), w/v (weight in volume)

 

Abbreviations that need to be spelled out by first-time mentioning, but not in (sub)headings or at the beginning of paragraphs:

 

ssDNA (single-stranded DNA), SS rRNA (small subunit ribosomal RNA); ITS (internal transcribed spacer);

OTU (operation taxonomic unit); RT (reverse transcriptase); RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction);

MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration);

LD50 (lethal dose 50%);

MW (molecular weight);

AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism);

RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism);

FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization);

RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA);

DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis); TGGE (temperature gradient gel electrophoresis);

SEM (scanning electron microscope/micrograph), TEM (transmission electron microscope/micrograph);

HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography); GC (gas chromatography);

NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance);

ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay);

IFN (interferon); IL (interleukin); GI (gastrointestinal); Ig (immunoglobulin); LPS (lipopolysaccharide); mAb (monoclonal antibody);

TNF (tumor necrosis factor); PV (human papilloma virus);

MHC (major histocompatibility complex); NK (natural killer);

i.m. (intramuscularly); i.v. (intravenously); s.c. (subcutaneously); p.o. ((per)orally);

BSA (bovine serum albumine); PBS (phosphate-biuffered saline);

MS (mass spectrometry);

GC-MS (combination of GC and MS);

PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis);

CHEF (contour-clamped homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis); FIGE (field inversion gel electrophoresis); TAFE (transverse alternating-field electrophoresis); RGE (rotating gel electrophoresis); EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory); FDA (Food and Drug Administration US); ATCC (American Type Culture Collection).