serotype
/ˈsɪrəˌtaɪp/
noun
- A distinct group within a species of bacteria or virus, identified by the specific antigens on its surface.
- The flu vaccine is updated each year to protect against the most common serotypes of the influenza virus.
- Scientists identified a new serotype of the virus in the recent outbreak.
- Different serotypes of the same bacterium can cause different types of illness.
verb
- To classify or identify a microorganism (such as a bacterium or virus) into a serotype based on its surface antigens.
- It took several days to serotype all the samples collected from the patients.
- Researchers need to serotype the virus before they can develop a targeted vaccine.
- The lab will serotype the bacterial sample to determine which strain is causing the infection.