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Glite Dictionary
quellung reaction

quellung reaction

9.9
A lab test that shows a germ's outer layer swelling when antibodies are added
  • noun
  • /kwɛlʊŋ ˌriˈækʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reacción de quellung
  • The laboratory confirmed the diagnosis using a quellung reaction to detect capsule swelling.

Examples

  • A positive quellung reaction indicates the presence of a polysaccharide capsule.

  • The quellung reaction is a valuable tool in distinguishing different species of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

  • The lab observed a quellung reaction in the sample.

  • Have you seen a quellung reaction before?

  • A positive quellung reaction indicates the presence of a polysaccharide capsule.

  • The quellung reaction is a valuable tool in distinguishing different species of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

  • The laboratory confirmed the diagnosis using a quellung reaction to detect capsule swelling.

Synonyms

quellung
vsquellung reaction
  • Specialized
9.9

A reaction in which a matching antibody makes a germ's outer coat swell so you can identify bacteria

is the full term used in scientific names rather than the shorter form

Surface Forms

quellung reaction singular
quellung reactions plural

Morphology

quellung + reaction

The compound is compositionally predictable: 'quellung' denotes a swelling response and 'reaction' denotes a biological/chemical response, so together they mean a reaction producing quellung (visible swelling). Although the term is technical jargon in microbiology, if a learner knows the constituent meanings they can infer the MWE's diagnostic/swelling-related sense.

Etymology

The noun quellung reaction comes from the German word quellung, which means 'to swell', because the capsule around some tiny bacteria seems to swell when special antibodies are added. So, the name describes a lab test that makes the capsule 'swell' to help identify those bacteria.