alexin
noun/əˈlɛk.sɪn/
Etymology Ultimately from German Alexine, coined by Hans Buchner in 1891 from the Ancient Greek ἀλέξω (aléxō).
1
Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Microbiology, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Dated A protective substance that exists in the serum or other bodily fluid and is capable of killing microorganisms; complement.
- The seed of our destruction will blossom in the desert, the alexin of our cure grows by a mountain rock […]1929, Thomas Wolfe, Look Homeward, Angel, New York: Scribner, Part One, Chapter 1, p. 3:
- Derived terms
- antialexin, oryzalexin, phytoalexin