polymyxin

[pol-ee-mik-sin]

noun Pharmacology.

any of various polypeptide antibiotics derived from Bacillus polymyxa.

Origin of polymyxin

1945–50; < New Latin polymyx(a) specific epithet (< Greek poly- poly- + mýxa mucus, slime) + -in²

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British Dictionary definitions for polymyxin

polymyxin

noun

any of several polypeptide antibiotics active against Gram-negative bacteria, obtained from the soil bacterium Bacillus polymyxa

Word Origin for polymyxin

C20: from New Latin Bacillus polymyxa; see poly-, myxo-, -in

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

polymyxin in Medicine

polymyxin

[pŏl′ē-mĭk′sĭn]

n.

Any of various mainly toxic antibiotics derived from strains of the soil bacterium Bacillus polymyxa and used to treat various infections with gram-negative bacteria.