HEMAGGLUTININS Meaning and
Definition
-
Hemagglutinins are a type of proteins found in some viruses, particularly influenza viruses. These proteins are responsible for binding the virus to host cells and initiating infection. The name "hemagglutinins" comes from their ability to cause red blood cells (erythrocytes) to clump together (agglutinate) in laboratory tests.
Influenza hemagglutinins are glycoproteins located on the surface of the virus. They have two main functions: first, they recognize and bind to specific receptor molecules on the surface of host cells, usually in the respiratory tract; and second, they mediate the entry of the virus into these cells, allowing it to initiate the infection.
The hemagglutinins of influenza viruses are critical for the virus's ability to infect a host. They are also responsible for the main antigenic properties of the virus, which determine its serotype or subtype. This is why different strains of influenza virus are characterized by different hemagglutinin subtypes, such as H1N1 or H3N2.
Due to their importance in viral replication and pathogenesis, hemagglutinins have become targets for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines. In particular, influenza vaccines are designed to induce an immune response against the specific hemagglutinin subtype found in circulating strains.
In summary, hemagglutinins are viral proteins found on the surface of influenza viruses that play a crucial role in viral attachment, entry into host cells, and immune recognition.
Common Misspellings for HEMAGGLUTININS
- gemagglutinins
- bemagglutinins
- nemagglutinins
- jemagglutinins
- uemagglutinins
- yemagglutinins
- hwmagglutinins
- hsmagglutinins
- hdmagglutinins
- hrmagglutinins
- h4magglutinins
- h3magglutinins
- henagglutinins
- hekagglutinins
- hejagglutinins
- hemzgglutinins
- hemsgglutinins
- hemwgglutinins
- hemqgglutinins
- hemafglutinins
Etymology of HEMAGGLUTININS
The word "hemagglutinins" has a scientific etymology and is formed by combining two roots: "hema" and "agglutinins".
1. Hema: This root comes from the Greek word "haima", meaning blood. It is commonly used in various scientific terms related to blood or blood cells.
2. Agglutinins: This term is derived from the Latin word "agglutinare", which means "to glue together". In scientific context, "agglutinins" refers to substances (usually proteins) that cause clumping or agglutination of particles, typically blood cells.
When combined, "hemagglutinins" refers to substances that cause agglutination or clumping of red blood cells.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
