anti-serum, antiserum Biochem.
(ˈæntɪˌsɪərəm)
Pl. -sera.
[anti-1 6 d.]
a. A contraction of antitoxic serum (see antitoxic a.); b. A serum containing a high level of antibodies, esp. one that can be used in the treatment of disease.
| 1901 Nuttall in Daily Chron. 28 Dec. 3/7 No other bloods excepting those of monkeys give a reaction to the anti⁓serum for human blood. 1910 Encycl. Brit. III. 176/2 So far as bacterial immunity is concerned, the anti-serum exerts its action either on the toxin or on the bacterium itself; that is, its action is either antitoxic or anti-bacterial. 1948 Endeavour VII. 49 The assumption that most antibody molecules have two regions able to combine with antigen..accounts for some of the properties of antisera. 1966 New Scientist 2 June 587/2 Blood serum obtained from the treated animal is known as the antiserum and the antibodies in it will combine specifically with the virus. |