You searched for: “opsonins
opsonin (s), opsonins (pl) (noun forms)
1. Protein fragments in the blood that bind to the surface of an invading antibody and promotes its destruction by white blood cells.
2. In medicine, any substance that binds to particulate antigens and induces their phagocytosis by macrophages and neutrophils.
3. Etymology: from the early 20th century and coined from Latin opsonare, "to cater, to buy provisions"; from Greek opsonein, "condiment, delicacy".
This entry is located in the following unit: opsono-, opson-, opso-; opsino-; opsoni; -opsony + (page 1)