hemagglutinin

noun

hem·​ag·​glu·​ti·​nin ˌhē-mə-ˈglü-tə-nən How to pronounce hemagglutinin (audio)
: an agglutinin (such as an antibody or viral capsid protein) that causes hemagglutination

Examples of hemagglutinin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Flu viruses are classified based on two proteins that sit on the surface of the virus an H, or hemagglutinin, protein, and an N, or neuraminidase, protein. Carma Hassan, CNN, 7 Sep. 2024 Notably, the genetic sequence of a key component of the virus — the hemagglutinin subunit — was an exact match to the hemagglutinin sequences from two earlier human cases tied to the dairy outbreak, officials said. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 16 July 2024 The virus would also need to tweak its hemagglutinin, the protein on its surface that locks onto host cells to initiate an infection. Andrew Joseph, STAT, 11 Aug. 2023 With 18 hemagglutinin and 11 neuraminidase proteins known, the permutations and combinations are many, leading to a high number of variants. Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022 See all Example Sentences for hemagglutinin 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemagglutinin was circa 1903

Dictionary Entries Near hemagglutinin

Cite this Entry

“Hemagglutinin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemagglutinin. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

hemagglutinin

noun
hem·​ag·​glu·​ti·​nin ˌhē-mə-ˈglüt-ᵊn-ən How to pronounce hemagglutinin (audio)
variants also hemoagglutinin or chiefly British haemagglutinin also haemoagglutinin
: an agglutinin (as an antibody or viral capsid protein) that causes hemagglutination
abbreviation HA
compare leukoagglutinin

More from Merriam-Webster on hemagglutinin

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