Skip to main content
hemolysin

hemolysin

9.9
A substance that kills red blood cells and makes them release their red liquid
  • noun
  • /hɪˈmoʊlɪsɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hemolisina
  • Appearance of clearing zone around the bacterial colony indicated hemolysin (Burke et al., 1981).
  • hemolysin production

Examples

  • In this study, 42.5% of Shigella isolates were Congo red and hemolysin positive.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Determination of Congo Red Binding Ability and Hemolysin Production

    Academic text (2009)
  • Hemolysins are important for the development of sepsis to advanced stages.

    Academic text (2017)
  • All of the Congo red positive colonies produced β-hemolysin on blood agar.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Erythrocytes are the main bactericidal cells in the bloodstream, and hemolysins are necessary for bacterial survival in the bloodstream.

    Academic text (2017)
  • If bacteria survive oxidation on the surface of erythrocytes, they produce hemolysins that destroy erythrocytes or provide bacterial penetration into the inner space of erythrocytes.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The hemolysin produced by the bacteria caused the destruction of red blood cells in the sample.

  • Researchers discovered that hemolysins can lead to the release of hemoglobin from damaged erythrocytes.

  • The presence of hemolysin in the bacterial culture shows its ability to lyse red blood cells.

Synonyms

erythrocytolysin
vshemolysin
  • Specialized
9.9

A substance that destroys red blood cells and releases their red pigment

is the same in meaning but written with an extra cell element
erythrolysin
vshemolysin
  • Specialized
9.9

A substance that destroys red blood cells and releases the red protein in them

is the same in meaning but written as a shorter technical form

Surface Forms

hemolysin singular
hemolysins plural

Morphology

hemolysin = hemolysis (semi-transparent) = hemo + lysis + in

Formed from the biomedical noun 'hemolysis' with the protein-forming suffix '-in'; the composition is regular but relies on specialized combining forms unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Hemolysin comes from two parts that mean 'blood' and 'to break': hemo- (the same root as in hemoglobin) and -lysin ('something that breaks'). So, a hemolysin is a substance that breaks red blood cells and releases hemoglobin.