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attenuated [ə'tenjueɪtɪd] adj.
med. A disease-causing virus or bacterium that is weakened in a laboratory so it cannot cause disease or only mild disease. Live attenuated viruses are often used as vaccines because, although weakened, they can stimulate a strong immune response. However, because of remote possibility that a live attenuated virus could cause disease, people infected with HIV should not receive most live attenuated vaccines. see also vaccine