1. An enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid, a substance found in connective tissue; produced by certain bacteria and used in medicine to increase tissue permeability.
Usage: technical; biochemistry; medicine

Examples

• Hyaluronidase is sometimes called a 'spreading factor' because it helps medications penetrate tissues more effectively.
• The enzyme hyaluronidase is produced by some pathogenic bacteria to help them invade host tissues.
• Doctors may use hyaluronidase to enhance the absorption of injected medications.
• Hyaluronidase breaks down the hyaluronic acid that holds cells together in the extracellular matrix.
• The presence of hyaluronidase in certain bacterial strains increases their virulence.