pyocyanase

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a sample of pyocyanase under a laboratory light.

Definition

Noun: A yellow-green mixture of antibiotics obtained from the bacillus of green pus (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). It was one of the first commercially available antibiotic preparations.

Usage

• Pyocyanase is used as a historical term in medicine and microbiology. It refers specifically to the early antimicrobial substance derived from cultures.
• It is typically used in academic or historical contexts when discussing the history of antibiotics.

Examples

• The discovery of pyocyanase in the late 19th century preceded the widespread use of penicillin.
• Early studies on pyocyanase provided important insights into bacterial antagonism.
• Due to its toxicity and instability, pyocyanase was not a successful therapeutic agent.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in historical discourse. For example: "The era of antibiotic therapy can be traced back to substances like pyocyanase."
• It may appear in scientific literature reviewing the evolution of antimicrobial drugs.

Variants and Related Words

• Pyocyanin (noun): A blue-green phenazine pigment produced by , which is a component of the mixture historically called pyocyanase. It has antimicrobial properties itself.
• Antibiotic (noun): A more general term for a substance produced by a microorganism that inhibits the growth of other microorganisms.

Synonyms

• Early antibiotic preparation
• Historical antimicrobial mixture

Notes on Meaning

This word has a very specific and narrow meaning. It does not refer to modern, purified antibiotics. Its use is almost exclusively confined to discussions about the history of medicine and microbiology.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a yellow-green mixture of antibiotics obtained from the bacillus of green pus