killer t cell

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Word: Killer T Cell

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A killer T cell is a type of white blood cell (part of the immune system) that has a special receptor called CD8. Its main job is to identify and destroy cells in the body that are infected by viruses. When a killer T cell finds an infected cell, it binds to it and helps to kill it, preventing the virus from spreading.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "killer T cell" when talking about the immune system, viruses, or diseases.
• This term is often used in scientific or medical discussions.

Example Sentence:

"The body’s defense against viruses includes killer T cells, which target and eliminate infected cells."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might find terms like "cytotoxic T lymphocyte" (CTL) being used interchangeably with killer T cells. The understanding of how killer T cells function can also lead to discussions on immunotherapy, where these cells are encouraged to fight cancer cells.

Word Variants:

• T Cell: A general term for a type of lymphocyte involved in the immune response.
• Cytotoxic T Cell: Another term for a killer T cell, emphasizing its function to kill infected cells.

Different Meanings:

While "killer T cell" specifically refers to a type of immune cell, the word "killer" in other contexts can refer to something that causes death or destruction (for example, "killer whale" refers to a type of whale known for its hunting skills).

Synonyms:

• Cytotoxic T cell
• CTL (short for cytotoxic T lymphocyte)

Related Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly relate to "killer T cells," you might come across phrases like "fight off" (to resist or combat an illness) in discussions about immune responses. For example: - "The body fights off infections with the help of killer T cells."

Summary:

Killer T cells are an essential part of the immune system that helps the body protect itself from viruses by identifying and destroying infected cells.

Academic

Noun

1. T cell with CD8 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and binds to the infected cell and kill it

Synonyms

• killer T cell
• killer cell
• cytotoxic T cell
• CD8 T cell
• CD8 cell