Medical Dictionary

Eaton agent

noun Ea·ton agent \ ˈēt-ᵊn- \

medical Definition of Eaton agent

: a bacterium of the genus Mycoplasma (M. pneumoniae) that is the causative agent of primary atypical pneumonia

Biographical Note for eaton agent

Eaton, Monroe Davis (1904–1989), American microbiologist. Eaton worked on the isolation of the causative agent of primary atypical pneumonia; the agent is now known as the Eaton agent. He also did research on bacterial toxins, purification of diphtheria toxin, development of influenza vaccination, the immunology of malaria, the biochemistry of virus growth, and the action of viruses on cancer cells.