anticytolysin
|an-ti-cy-to-ly-sin|
/ˌæn.tiˈsaɪ.təˌlɪ.sɪn/
antibody against a cell‑lysing toxin
Etymology
'anticytolysin' originates from Modern scientific English, formed by the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'cytolysin' (from New Latin/Greek roots 'kytos' meaning 'cell' and 'lysis' meaning 'loosening' or 'destruction').
'anticytolysin' was created by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the term 'cytolysin' (which itself comes from Greek 'kytos' + 'lysis' via New Latin), reflecting a modern formation in biomedical terminology rather than descent from a single older English word.
Initially coined to denote a substance acting against cytolysin activity, its meaning has remained stable and continues to denote antibodies or antitoxins that neutralize cytolysins.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an antibody (or antiserum) that neutralizes or inhibits a cytolysin, a toxin that lyses cells.
Researchers detected anticytolysin in the patient's serum that neutralized the bacterial cytolysin.
Synonyms
Noun 2
(Clinical/historical) An antitoxin preparation used to treat or prevent damage caused by cytolysin-producing organisms.
During early experimental treatments, doctors administered anticytolysin to patients exposed to the toxin.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/29 03:51