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cytopathic

cytopathic

8.9
Causes damage to living cells, often because of a virus
  • adjective
  • /ˌsaɪtəˈpæθɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : citopático
  • HBV may be directly cytopathic in this situation.
  • cytopathic effect

Examples

  • Cells were examined daily for the typical cytopathic effect of HSV growth.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Samples from patients 1, 2, and 3 gave rise to massive cytopathic effect (CPE), whereas no CPE was observed in cell cultures inoculated with samples from patient 4 (Table).

    Academic text (2013)
  • We regularly examined cultures by light microscopy for cytopathic effects.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The lack of inflammatory response suggests a direct cytopathic effect of HBV.

    Academic text (1994)
  • High-level accumulation of HBcAg has been shown to be cytopathic in human hepatoma cell lines.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The plates were then incubated in a 5% CO2 incubator at 33°C for cytopathic effect observation.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The cytopathic effects were evaluated 96 h after incubation at 35°C in 5% CO₂.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The scientists observed a cytopathic effect as the virus spread through the infected tissue.

  • Researchers noted significant cytopathic changes in the infected cells under the microscope.

  • In this study, the cytopathic nature of the virus was evident from the damage seen in cell cultures.

Synonyms

cytotoxic
vscytopathic
  • Specialized
1 8.1

To damage or kill living cells

is about cell damage or change often from infection rather than toxins
cytolytic
vscytopathic
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Causing cells to break open and die

is broader covering cell damage or change not only destruction
cytopathogenic
vscytopathic
  • Specialized
9.9

Causing cells to become damaged or die, often after infection

is about direct cell damage especially from viral infection
cytopathological
vscytopathic
  • Specialized
9.5

Relating to changes in cells caused by disease or to the study of those changes

focuses on causing cell damage rather than describing it

Surface Forms

cytopathic positive

Morphology

cytopathic = cytopathy (opaque) = cyto + path + ic

The base is built from technical combining forms ('cyto-' and 'path-') that are not recognisable standalone words to an average B1 learner, so the adjective meaning is not easily derivable.

Etymology

Cytopathic comes from cyto- meaning 'cell' and -pathic from a root meaning 'suffering' or 'disease', as we see in pathology. So, cytopathic means 'causing harm or disease to cells', which is why we use it for infections or conditions that damage living cells.