Erythrolysin (Noun)
Meaning
Any substance that can cause lysis (destruction) of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and the release of their hemoglobin.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Alpha-hemolysin produced by certain strains of Staphylococcus is a potent erythrolysin that can rupture red blood cells.
- Certain snake venoms are known to contain erythrolisin, which plays a crucial role in their hemotoxic effects.
- The erythrolysin present in some bacterial toxins causes cell lysis, leading to severe anemia and potentially life-threatening complications.
- Snake cardiotoxins have erythrolysin properties that cause the red blood cells to break down, releasing their oxygen-carrying hemoglobin into the bloodstream.
- Streptolysin, produced by Streptococcus bacteria, is another erythrolysin that results in rapid red blood cell destruction when present in the bloodstream.