OPSONISE Meaning and
Definition
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Opsonise (also spelled opsonize) is a verb derived from the Greek word "opson," which means "food" or "rations." In the field of immunology and microbiology, opsonise refers to the process by which a substance, usually an antibody or a complement protein, coats the surface of a microorganism, such as a bacterium or a foreign particle, to mark it for destruction by phagocytic cells of the immune system.
When a substance opsonizes a microorganism, it enhances the process of phagocytosis, which is the engulfment and subsequent degradation of foreign particles by specialized immune cells called phagocytes. Opsonization is crucial for the efficient clearance of pathogenic microorganisms by the immune system.
Opsonization occurs through a series of molecular interactions. Antibodies, for instance, can bind to specific antigens on the surface of a microorganism, acting as opsonins. Similarly, complement proteins, when activated, can also attach to pathogens, promoting phagocytosis. This opsonization process enhances the recognition of the microorganism by phagocytes, facilitating their engulfment and subsequent destruction.
Opsonise is a term widely used in scientific and medical literature to describe this important immune mechanism. The ability to opsonize pathogens plays a significant role in host defense against infections and helps to maintain overall health.
Etymology of OPSONISE
The word "opsonise" originates from the Greek term "opsonīzein", derived from "opsōn", meaning "seasoned food" or "relish". In ancient Greece, opson referred to a type of sauce or condiment that was added to food to make it more appetizing. Over time, in Greek and later in Latin, the term "opsonīzein" came to be associated with the act of preparing or flavoring food. In modern scientific usage, the verb "opsonise" has been adopted to describe the process by which pathogens or other foreign particles are marked for ingestion and destruction by phagocytes, a type of immune cell.
Conjugate verb Opsonise
CONDITIONAL
I
would opsonise
you
would opsonise
he/she/it
would opsonise
we
would opsonise
they
would opsonise
CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS
I
would be opsonising
you
would be opsonising
he/she/it
would be opsonising
we
would be opsonising
they
would be opsonising
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have opsonise
you
would have opsonise
he/she/it
would have opsonise
we
would have opsonise
they
would have opsonise
CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
would have been opsonising
you
would have been opsonising
he/she/it
would have been opsonising
we
would have been opsonising
they
would have been opsonising
FUTURE
I
will opsonise
you
will opsonise
he/she/it
will opsonise
we
will opsonise
they
will opsonise
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be opsonising
you
will be opsonising
he/she/it
will be opsonising
we
will be opsonising
they
will be opsonising
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have opsonised
you
will have opsonised
he/she/it
will have opsonised
we
will have opsonised
they
will have opsonised
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been opsonising
you
will have been opsonising
he/she/it
will have been opsonising
we
will have been opsonising
they
will have been opsonising
IMPERATIVE
you
opsonise
we
let´s opsonise
to opsonise
PAST
I
opsonised
you
opsonised
he/she/it
opsonised
we
opsonised
they
opsonised
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was opsonising
you
were opsonising
he/she/it
was opsonising
we
were opsonising
they
were opsonising
PAST PARTICIPLE
opsonised
PAST PERFECT
I
had opsonised
you
had opsonised
he/she/it
had opsonised
we
had opsonised
they
had opsonised
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been opsonising
you
had been opsonising
he/she/it
had been opsonising
we
had been opsonising
they
had been opsonising
PRESENT
I
opsonise
you
opsonise
he/she/it
opsonises
we
opsonise
they
opsonise
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am opsonising
you
are opsonising
he/she/it
is opsonising
we
are opsonising
they
are opsonising
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
opsonising
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have opsonised
you
have opsonised
he/she/it
has opsonised
we
have opsonised
they
have opsonised
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been opsonising
you
have been opsonising
he/she/it
has been opsonising
we
have been opsonising
they
have been opsonising
