serotype

(noun)

a group of microorganisms characterized by a specific set of antigens

Related Terms

Examples of serotype in the following topics:

  • Bacterial Foodborne Diseases

    • The raw spinach outbreak in 2006 was produced by the bacterium E. coli serotype O157:H7.
    • A serotype is a strain of bacteria that carries a set of similar antigens on its cell surface.
    • There are often many different serotypes of a bacterial species.
    • Most E. coli are not particularly dangerous to humans, but serotype O157:H7 can cause bloody diarrhea and is potentially fatal.
    • The strain that caused the outbreak was found to be a new serotype not previously involved in other outbreaks, which indicates that E. coli is continuously evolving.

  • History of Bacterial Diseases

    • Other Salmonella serotypes cause food poisoning.