gamma globulin

American  

noun

Immunology.

1. a protein fraction of blood plasma that responds to stimulation of antigens, as bacteria or viruses, by forming antibodies: administered therapeutically in the treatment of some viral diseases.

---

gamma globulin British  

noun

1. any of a group of proteins in blood plasma that includes most known antibodies

---

gamma globulin Scientific  

1. A class of globulins in the blood plasma of humans and other mammals that function as part of the body's immune system and include most antibodies.

2. A solution of this substance prepared from human blood and administered for immunization against measles, German measles, hepatitis A, and other infections.

---

Etymology

Origin of gamma globulin

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Instead, they lined us up in the hallways and gave us shots of gamma globulin to boost our immune systems.

From Salon • Sep. 2, 2023

Two Minnesota counties were early test sites for pre-Salk gamma globulin vaccines, which had a big clinical trial in the early 1950s but were eventually proved ineffective.

From Slate • Nov. 26, 2021

I wasn't well yet – I was taking steroids and gamma globulin.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2011

That led to research by Dr. McCollum and Dr. Krugman that found that gamma globulin — antibodies collected from blood donors — can prevent hepatitis resulting from a blood transfusion.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2010

The gamma globulin fraction from the serum in these blood samples is rich in rabies antibody, and because it is from human serunr it should cause no bad reactions.

From Time Magazine Archive