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neuraminidase

neuraminidase

1 9.9
A part of a virus, for example the flu virus, that helps viruses spread by breaking cell layers
  • noun
  • /ˌnjʊərəˈmɪnɪdeɪz/
  • Specialized
: neuraminidasa
  • All viral samples were collected before the initiation of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs).
  • neuraminidase inhibitors
  • neuraminidase gene

Examples

  • The mystery virus is H5N1, short for hemagglutinin subtype 5 and neuraminidase subtype 1, both proteins on the virus surface.

    Academic text (1998)
  • Information about the use of immunosuppressant and antimicrobial drugs and neuraminidase inhibitors was obtained from the Drug Program Information Network, the comprehensive database of all out-of-hospital prescriptions dispensed in Manitoba.

    Academic text (2012)
  • There are two glycoproteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), on the surface of the virus.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) blocks the neuraminidase protein of the virus, stopping its spread from one cell to another.

    Blog text (29)
  • It's called Zadimovir, and it's an antiviral that binds to the neuraminidase protein of the influenza virus.

  • In healthy adults, what are the benefits and harms of neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs) for prevention or treatment of influenza?

    Academic text (2014)
  • The emergence of resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors could potentially have dramatic consequences because they are the first-line response to pandemics caused by highly virulent influenza viruses.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Of 25 clade 1.1 viruses, all possessed a marker of resistance to M2 blockers amantadine and rimantadine; 24 were inhibited by neuraminidase inhibitors.

    Academic text (2013)
  • One clade 1.1 virus contained the R430W neuraminidase gene and reduced inhibition by oseltamivir, zanamivir, and laninamivir 12-, 73-, and 29-fold, respectively.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Researchers found that the neuraminidase enzyme allows the flu virus to efficiently spread between cells in the human body.

Surface Forms

neuraminidase singular

Morphology

neuraminidase = neuraminic (semi-transparent) = neuraminic + ase

Built from the specialised chemical name 'neuraminic' plus the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase'; '-ase' signals an enzyme but the root is a technical term unfamiliar to most learners.

Etymology

Neuraminidase comes from the name neuraminic, built from parts meaning 'nerve' and 'amino', and the ending -ase, which means 'enzyme' like in lactase. So neuraminidase is an enzyme that 'breaks down' parts of body cells, and that ability is what helps some viruses spread.