noun
- a protein produced by certain bacteria that kills or inhibits the growth of closely related bacterial strains
Usage: microbiology
Examples
- The E. coli strain produces colicin to eliminate competing bacteria.
- Researchers studied how colicin affects bacterial populations in the gut.
- Colicin production gives some bacteria a competitive advantage.
- The laboratory isolated several types of colicin from the bacterial culture.
- Scientists are investigating colicin as a potential antimicrobial agent.
- Colicin binds to specific receptors on target bacterial cells.