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

Flu vaccines often generate immune responses to fast-evolving bits of proteins on the outside of flu virus particles, hemagglutinin (Ha or H) and neuraminidase (Na or N). —Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 16 May 2023

Several also add neuraminidase, a protein on the surface of the flu virus that controls how viral copies break free from cells. —Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 10 Nov. 2023

With 18 hemagglutinin and 11 neuraminidase proteins known, the permutations and combinations are many, leading to a high number of variants. —Larry Brilliant, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022

But resistant strains have a mutation in their neuraminidase gene, which changes a single amino acid in the protein’s sequence. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 3 June 2010

The World Health Organization, which adopted the classification system in 1979, further divided influenza A based on its surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). —Brenda Poppy, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2015

Drugs like oseltamivir inhibit the spread of viral infection in a host by blocking the neuraminidase. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 Dec. 2013

Different types of neuraminidase---the N's---govern how the virus spreads through a host. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 10 Dec. 2013

Two viruses may have the same broad hemagglutinin and neuraminidase subtypes, but have subtle differences throughout their genome. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1957, in the meaning defined above

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)