BACTERIOHEMOLYSIN Meaning and
Definition
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Bacteriohemolysin is a term used in microbiology to describe a protein or toxin produced by certain bacteria that has the ability to lyse or destroy red blood cells. This phenomenon of bacterial-induced hemolysis, or destruction of red blood cells, is significant as it plays a role in bacterial pathogenesis and the spread of infection.
When a bacterium produces bacteriohemolysin, it secretes this protein or exotoxin into its surrounding environment. The bacteriohemolysin is capable of binding to the surface of red blood cells, which triggers a series of events leading to the disruption and lysis of the cell membrane, ultimately resulting in the release of hemoglobin.
Bacteriohemolysin is a virulence factor employed by some bacteria to survive and thrive in the host's tissues. The destruction of red blood cells by bacteriohemolysin not only helps the bacteria to obtain necessary nutrients, such as iron, but also enables the spread of infection to other tissues and host organisms.
The presence of bacteriohemolysin can be detected through various laboratory techniques, such as blood agar plate assays or specific biochemical tests. This allows researchers and clinicians to identify and determine the virulence potential of different bacterial strains.
Understanding the mechanisms and effects of bacteriohemolysin production is crucial for studying bacterial pathogenesis, developing diagnostic methods, and designing strategies to combat bacterial infections.
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An hemolysin formed by bacterial action.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BACTERIOHEMOLYSIN
- bacteriohemolysio
- bacterioweemolysin
- b acteriohemolysin
- ba cteriohemolysin
- bac teriohemolysin
- bact eriohemolysin
- bacte riohemolysin
- bacter iohemolysin
- bacteri ohemolysin
- bacterio hemolysin
- bacterioh emolysin
- bacteriohe molysin
- bacteriohem olysin
- bacteriohemo lysin
- bacteriohemol ysin
- bacteriohemoly sin
- bacteriohemolys in
- bacteriohemolysi n
Etymology of BACTERIOHEMOLYSIN
The word "bacteriohemolysin" is derived from combining two components: "bacterio-" and "hemolysin".
1. "Bacterio-" comes from the Greek word "baktērion", meaning "little staff" or "rod". It is often used as a prefix in scientific terms related to bacteria, indicating their presence or involvement.
2. "Hemolysin" is derived from two parts: "hemo-" and "-lysin". "Hemo-" comes from the Greek word "haima", meaning "blood". "-lysin" is derived from the Greek word "lysis", which means "loosening" or "dissolution". In biological terms, a "lysin" refers to a substance or enzyme capable of breaking down or dissolving something, in this case, blood cells.
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