opsonin

[ op-suh-nin ]

noun

, Immunology.

1. a constituent of normal or immune blood serum that makes invading bacteria more susceptible to the destructive action of the phagocytes.

opsonin

/ ɒpˈsɒnɪk; ˈɒpsənɪn /

noun

1. a constituent of blood serum that renders invading bacteria more susceptible to ingestion by phagocytes in the serum

Derived Forms

• opsonic, adjective

Other Words From

• opso·noid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of opsonin¹

1900–05; < Latin opsōn ( ium ) victuals (< Greek opsōnía, derivative of opsōneîn to buy provisions) + -in ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of opsonin¹

C20: from Greek opsōnion victuals

Example Sentences

The word opsonin is derived from a Greek root which means "to prepare the feast."

From Project Gutenberg

It is just these 'messy things' that nature uses for curing infectious diseases, and the introduction of an opsonin or an antitoxin is not putting matter in its wrong place, but in its right place; and therefore the use of the terms filth and dirt in this relationship should be confined either to the foul-mouthed or to the ignorant.

From Project Gutenberg

The opsonin becomes fixed to the organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

The three most important of the antibodies referred to which can be demonstrated with a certain amount of facility are agglutinin, opsonin and bacteriolysin; and the methods of testing for these bodies will now be considered.

From Project Gutenberg

Opsonin is the term applied by Wright to a substance, present in the serum of an inoculated animal, which is able to act upon or sensitise bacteria of the species originally injected, so as to render them an easy prey to the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes.

From Project Gutenberg