heterologous

adjective

het·​er·​ol·​o·​gous ˌhe-tə-ˈrä-lə-gəs 

: derived from a different species

heterologously adverb

Examples of heterologous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, the FDA noted that heterologous boosters resulted in similar or higher serologic responses than did homologous boosters. —Judy Stone, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

This was surprising because, in some earlier studies, a mix-and-match (heterologous) approach seemed advantageous. —Judy Stone, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

This is not entirely surprising given that mixing vaccines—a practice known as heterologous prime-boost—has been tested out with the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis vaccine, among several others. —Manavi Kapur, Quartz, 12 Aug. 2021

The study did find that such heterologous boosting with the Nuvaxovid Covid-19 booster did result in enhanced cross-reactive immunity as measured by antibody levels against the Omicron BA.1 and BA.5 subvariants. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022

Authorization of this booster possibility would then offer even more heterologous booster possibilities. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 15 July 2022

For example, the cure rate of Clostridioides difficile with heterologous FMT is up to 90 percent. —Sarah Sloat, NBC News, 30 June 2022

Of the 98 participants, 50 went on to get another Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose for their booster (homologous booster), while the remaining 48 received a Moderna booster (heterologous booster). —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 13 May 2022

Scientists have long suspected that heterologous prime-boosts sometimes work better than two identical doses. —New York Times, 19 Oct. 2021

Word History

Etymology

heter- + -logous (as in homologous)

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heterologous

• autologous
• homologous

Medical Definition

heterologous

adjective

het·​er·​ol·​o·​gous ˌhet-ə-ˈräl-ə-gəs 

1

: derived from a different species

heterologous DNAs

heterologous transplants

compare autologous, homologous sense 2a

2

: characterized by cross-reactivity

a heterologous vaccine protects against pathogenic antigens that cross-react with antibodies induced by antigens in the vaccine

heterologously adverb