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lysozyme
noun
ly·so·zyme
ˈlī-sə-ˌzīm
: a basic bacteriolytic protein that hydrolyzes peptidoglycan and is present in egg white and in human tears and saliva
Examples of lysozyme in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There, in 1965, David Phillips, one of the pioneers of protein crystallography, first determined the structure of an enzyme: lysozyme, which the immune system uses to attack bacteria.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 June 2024
Active ingredients: Grapefruit seed extract, zinc, vitamin D3, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase Zymox Shampoo with Vitamin D3 is formulated to ease itchy, inflamed skin.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 23 Oct. 2022
All tested positive for lysozyme.
—Claudia Kalb, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2021
About 50 years ago, researchers found that one particular bacteria that secreted a lysozyme capable of cutting harmful pathogens like MRSA apart.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2019
No one knew how the molecule managed to puncture bacteria, so Mesnage and his colleagues set out to document how the lysozyme attached to and destroyed cell walls.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2019
After mixing cell wall fragments and the lysozyme together, the research team tracked how the toxin interacted with its target.
—Leslie Nemo, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2019
Whole Foods issued a recall for Zerto Fontal cheese because the product contains egg lysozyme.
—Chris Smith, BGR, 6 Oct. 2022
The product contains egg lysozyme, an egg-white protein and allergen that is not declared on the label.
—Marc Bona, cleveland, 1 July 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lysozyme.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1922, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near lysozyme
Cite this Entry
“Lysozyme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lysozyme. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
lysozyme
noun
ly·so·zyme
ˈlī-sə-ˌzīm
: a basic bacteriolytic protein that hydrolyzes peptidoglycan and is present in egg white and in saliva and tears
called also muramidase
More from Merriam-Webster on lysozyme
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lysozyme
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