neuraminidase

British

/ ˌnjʊərəˈmɪnɪdeɪz /

noun

any of various enzymes, found esp in viruses, that catalyse the breakdown of glucosides containing neuraminic acid, an amino sugar

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of neuraminidase

C20: from neuramin ( ic acid ) (from _neuro- + _amine + _-ic ) + _-ide + _-ase

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

neuraminidase

Flu viruses are composed of eight segments, including the haemagglutinin protein, or “H” part of the virus, and neuraminidase, or the “N” part.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2025

“If your hemagglutinin is too sticky and your neuraminidase is too poor, you get stuck to the cell that you’ve just budded from,” Peacock says.

From Science Magazine ● Dec. 5, 2024

"It binds and inhibits viral neuraminidase expressed on both free virus particles and virus-infected cells," he said.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2024

Tamiflu, also known by its chemical name oseltamivir, works by blocking a protein on the surface of flu viruses called neuraminidase that enables newly made germs to escape from an infected cell and spread.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 11, 2018

With 18 hemagglutinin varieties and 11 types of neuraminidase - most carried by birds - there are lots of potential combinations.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 18, 2018

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023