What does haemagglutinin mean?
Haemagglutinin is a glycoprotein found on the surface of red blood cells that plays a crucial role in the agglutination of these cells. It is involved in the binding of red blood cells to each other, leading to the formation of clumps or aggregates. Haemagglutinin is often used in medical and scientific contexts to describe this process, which can be an important diagnostic tool in the detection of certain diseases. The term haemagglutinin is derived from the Greek words 'haema' meaning blood and 'glutinin' meaning glue, reflecting its role in binding red blood cells together. Understanding haemagglutinin is essential in various fields, including medicine, biology, and immunology, where it is used to study the interactions between red blood cells and other cells or substances.
nounA glycoprotein found on the surface of red blood cells that is involved in the agglutination of red blood cells.
- A glycoprotein found on the surface of red blood cells that is involved in the agglutination of red blood cells.
"The haemagglutinin on the surface of the virus caused the red blood cells to clump together."
"The haemagglutinin on the surface of the virus caused the red blood cells to clump together."
"The lectin on the surface of the plant cells agglutinated the red blood cells."
The plural form haemagglutinins is used to describe multiple glycoproteins found on the surface of red blood cells.
"The haemagglutinins on the surface of the virus caused the red blood cells to clump together."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of haemagglutinin
The term haemagglutinin was first introduced in the early 20th century to describe the glycoprotein responsible for the agglutination of red blood cells. It is derived from the Greek words 'haema' meaning blood and 'glutinin' meaning glue, reflecting its role in binding red blood cells together. The term has since been widely adopted in medical and scientific contexts to describe this process.
How haemagglutinin is actually used
Haemagglutinin is often used in medical and scientific contexts to describe the agglutination of red blood cells.