aminoglycoside

[uh-mee-noh-glahy-kuh-sahyd, am-uh-noh-]

adjective

1. of or relating to amino sugars in glycosidic linkage.

noun

1. any of a group of bacterial antibiotics having aminoglycoside structure.

aminoglycoside

1. A compound containing amino sugars in glycoside linkage.

2. Any of a group of antibiotics, such as streptomycin, having the chemical structure of this compound, derived from species of Streptomyces or Micomonospora bacteria and usually used to treat infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.

Word History and Origins

Origin of aminoglycoside¹

amino- + glycoside

Example Sentences

Researchers have shown, for example, that aminoglycoside antibiotics can cause deafness by damaging mitochondria in the hair cells of the ear3.

Read more on Nature

Benítez-Páez, A., Cárdenas-Brito, S., Corredor, M., Villarroya, M. & Armengod, M. E. Impairing methylations at ribosome RNA, a point mutation-dependent strategy for aminoglycoside resistance: the rsmG case.

Read more on Nature

Investigators focused on aminoglycoside antibiotics, which doctors rely on to treat meningitis, bacteremia, and respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients.

Read more on US News

Healthy mice given a low amount of an aminoglycoside developed a small degree of hearing loss.

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A fluorinated analogue of the naturally occurring aminoglycoside neomycin – well known as an over-the-counter ointment for minor skin abrasions – could lead to a range of much-needed antibiotics in the arms race against aminoglycoside resistant bacteria.

Read more on Scientific American