Agents which kill cells are called cidal agents; agents which inhibit the growth of cells (without killing them) are referred to as static agents. Thus the term bactericidal refers to killing bacteria and bacteriostatic refers to inhibiting the growth of bacterial cells. A bactericide kills bacteria, a fungicide kills fungi, and so on.

Op basis van recent onderzoek waarin is aangetoond dat het weefseleiwit HLA-G in staat is Natural Killer (NK) cellen te remmen in hun *celdodende activiteit*