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colicin

colicin

9.9
Some bacteria make a substance that kills other bacteria
  • noun
  • /ˈkoʊlɪsɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : colicina
  • Understanding how colicin works may help develop new treatments for bacterial infections.

Examples

  • The team isolated a new type of colicin with strong antibacterial properties.

  • Some colicins are effective against antibiotic-resistant strains.

  • Researchers discovered that the colicin produced by E. coli could eliminate competing bacteria.

  • The colicin produced by E. coli can eliminate competing bacteria.

  • Researchers discovered that the colicin produced by E. coli could eliminate competing bacteria.

  • The team isolated a new type of colicin that effectively inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.

  • Studies show that colicins can kill other bacteria, potentially leading to new antibiotic therapies.

Synonyms

bacteriocin
vscolicin
  • Specialized
8.9

A protein made by some bacteria that kills other bacteria or stops their growth

names the same but specifies production by certain strains

Surface Forms

colicin singular
colicins plural

Morphology

colicin = E. coli (opaque) = coli + in

Formed from the bacterial name element 'coli' plus the protein-forming suffix '-in'; this is a specialized scientific formation not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

Colicin comes from coli, the name of the bacterium E. coli, plus the ending -in, which shows it is a 'protein' like in 'protein' or 'insulin'. So colicin is a 'protein' made by E. coli that can kill or stop other bacteria.