leukocidin

leukocidin

 [loo″ko-si´din]

1. a substance toxic to leukocytes, killing the cells with or without lysis.

2. a type of exotoxin produced by pathogenic bacteria such as staphylococci or streptococci; it destroys leukocytes and may also damage monocytes and macrophages.

leu·ko·ci·din

(lū'kō-sī'din, lū-kō-sī'din),

A heat-labile substance that is elaborated by many strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and pneumococci and manifests a destructive action on leukocytes, with or without lysis of the cells.

[leukocyte + L. caedo, to kill]

leukocidin

/leu·ko·ci·din/ (-si´din) a substance produced by some pathogenic bacteria that is toxic to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils).

leukocidin

(1) An antibody which lyses white cells following complement fixation.
(2) A pore-forming cytotoxin produced by certain bacteria.

leu·ko·ci·din

(lū'kō-sī'din)

A heat-labile substance that is elaborated by many strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and pneumococci; manifests a destructive action on leukocytes, with or without lysis of the cells.
Synonym(s): leucocidin.

[leukocyte + L. caedo, to kill]

leukocidin

a substance produced by some pathogenic bacteria that is toxic to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils).