colicin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / TechnicalScientific, Academic (Microbiology, Molecular Biology)
Quick answer
What does “colicin” mean?
A type of bactericidal protein produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli and other related bacteria, which kills or inhibits the growth of competing bacterial strains, typically of the same species.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of bactericidal protein produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli and other related bacteria, which kills or inhibits the growth of competing bacterial strains, typically of the same species.
Any of a class of proteinaceous toxins (bacteriocins) produced by and active against closely related bacterial strains, often encoded by plasmids and involved in microbial competition within ecological niches.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are identical. Potential minor variation in preferred abbreviations or adjacent terminology (e.g., 'plasmid' vs. 'episome' in older texts).
Connotations
Neutral, purely technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, used identically in relevant scientific literature in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “colicin” in a Sentence
The [bacterial strain] produces colicin [type].[Colicin type] inhibits the growth of [target bacterium].Resistance to colicin is conferred by [gene/protein].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colicin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The engineered strain was made to colicinise its environment, outcompeting the pathogen.
- The plasmid enables the bacterium to colicinise rival colonies.
American English
- The lab strain was engineered to colicinize the culture, eliminating competitors.
- These bacteria can colicinize sensitive strains in the gut.
adjective
British English
- The colicinogenic properties of the isolate were confirmed.
- Researchers observed a colicin-mediated killing zone on the agar plate.
American English
- The colicinogenic plasmid was transferred via conjugation.
- A clear colicin-mediated zone of inhibition was visible.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in microbiology papers on bacterial competition, plasmid biology, and protein toxin mechanisms.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Essential term in laboratory manuals, bacterial genetics, and molecular microbiology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colicin”
- Pronouncing it as /koʊˈlaɪsɪn/ (like 'coliseum').
- Using it as a general term for any antibiotic.
- Misspelling as 'collisin' or 'collicin'.
- Treating it as a mass noun without a determiner for a specific type (e.g., 'The bacteria secretes colicin' vs. '...a colicin' or '...colicins').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, colicins are not currently used as therapeutic antibiotics in human or veterinary medicine, though they are studied for potential applications due to their specificity.
Generally, no. Colicins are highly specific for bacterial target cells, typically other Enterobacteriaceae. They do not affect eukaryotic human cells.
Antibiotics are a broad class of antimicrobial compounds, often produced by fungi or actinobacteria, or synthesized chemically. Colicins are a specific subclass of bacteriocins—protein toxins produced by bacteria, usually targeting only closely related bacterial strains.
It provides a competitive edge. The producing bacterium carries an immunity gene to protect itself. By killing nearby, non-immune related strains, it reduces competition for limited resources like nutrients and space.
A type of bactericidal protein produced by certain strains of Escherichia coli and other related bacteria, which kills or inhibits the growth of competing bacterial strains, typically of the same species.
Colicin is usually scientific, academic (microbiology, molecular biology) in register.
Colicin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒlɪsɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːlɪsɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COLI (as in E. coli) + -CIN (as in antibiotic ending like 'penicillin'). It's the 'coli-cillin' – a weapon E. coli uses against its neighbours.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BACTERIAL WEAPON / A MICROBIAL DAGGAR.
Practice
Quiz
What is a colicin?