neuraminidase

noun

neur·​amin·​i·​dase ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈmi-nə-ˌdās 

ˌnyu̇r-,

-ˌdāz

: a hydrolytic enzyme that occurs on the surface of the pneumococcus, influenza-causing viruses, and some paramyxoviruses as an antigen and that splits mucoproteins by breaking a glucoside link

Examples of neuraminidase in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In this case, the virus acquired its neuraminidase segment from a different influenza lineage circulating in North American birds. —John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Help may also come from antibodies aimed at the other dominant protein on the surface of influenza viruses, called neuraminidase, or N1. —Will Stone, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025

Scientists classify bird flu viruses by which kind of two key proteins are inside of them: the hemagglutinin, like H5 or H3, and the neuraminidase, like N1 or N9. —Alexander Tin, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2025

This means that all three of these variants of flu are different versions of influenza A, all of which use protein components called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

neuraminic acid, an amino acid + -ide + -ase

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neuraminidase

• decarboxylase
• exonuclease
• galactosidase
• glucuronidase
• immunoassays
• nucleotidase
• penicillinase
• phosphodiesterase
• topoisomerase
• ablaze
• airways
• allays

Medical Definition

neuraminidase

noun

neur·​amin·​i·​dase ˌn(y)u̇r-ə-ˈmin-ə-ˌdās, -ˌdāz 

: a hydrolytic enzyme that occurs on the surface of the pneumococcus, the orthomyxoviruses, and some paramyxoviruses and that cleaves terminal acetylated neuraminic acids from sugar residues (as in glycoproteins and mucoproteins)