spike protein
noun
variants
or less commonly spike glycoprotein
plural spike proteins also spike glycoproteins
: a glycoprotein that protrudes from the envelope of some viruses (such as a coronavirus) and facilitates entry of the virion into a host cell by binding to a receptor on the surface of a host cell followed by fusion of the viral and host cell membranes
Like a key in a lock, these spike proteins fuse to receptors on the surface of cells, allowing the virus's genetic code to invade the host cell, take over its machinery and replicate.—
Bruce Lieberman
Bruce LiebermanTheir results, published in Science, confirm that the spike protein on the virus that causes COVID-19 is quite similar to that of its close relative, the SARS virus.—Francis Collins
Francis CollinsUsing a powerful imaging technique … , researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Weill Cornell Medical College and Yale University School of Medicine observed the motions of key proteins on the surface of HIV called spike proteins.—Emily Mullin
Emily Mullincalled also S protein
Examples of spike protein in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With Covid-19, the prominent spike protein fit the bill.
—Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 3 Oct. 2024
To qualify for the trial, patients must have a detectable presence of the COVID-19 spike protein in their blood.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2024
That’s because our immune systems are no longer so virginal to the SARS-CoV-2, given previous exposure to its spike proteins via vaccination or natural infection.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
While the mRNA vaccines contain mRNA that then go into your cells and serve as blueprints for you cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the Novavax vaccine includes a version of the spike protein itself.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spike protein 
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Chris Baraniuk, WIRED, 3 Oct. 2024
To qualify for the trial, patients must have a detectable presence of the COVID-19 spike protein in their blood.
—Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, 27 Sep. 2024
That’s because our immune systems are no longer so virginal to the SARS-CoV-2, given previous exposure to its spike proteins via vaccination or natural infection.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
While the mRNA vaccines contain mRNA that then go into your cells and serve as blueprints for you cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, the Novavax vaccine includes a version of the spike protein itself.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spike protein
Dictionary Entries Near spike protein
Cite this Entry
“Spike protein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike%20protein. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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