spike protein
noun
variants
or less commonly spike glycoprotein
plural spike proteins also spike glycoproteins
: a glycoprotein that protrudes from the envelope of some viruses (such as a coronavirus) and facilitates entry of the virion into a host cell by binding to a receptor on the surface of a host cell followed by fusion of the viral and host cell membranes
Like a key in a lock, these spike proteins fuse to receptors on the surface of cells, allowing the virus's genetic code to invade the host cell, take over its machinery and replicate.—
Bruce Lieberman
Bruce LiebermanTheir results, published in Science, confirm that the spike protein on the virus that causes COVID-19 is quite similar to that of its close relative, the SARS virus.—Francis Collins
Francis CollinsUsing a powerful imaging technique … , researchers from the National Institutes of Health, Weill Cornell Medical College and Yale University School of Medicine observed the motions of key proteins on the surface of HIV called spike proteins.—Emily Mullin
Emily Mullincalled also S protein
Examples of spike protein in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For the coming season, two of the shots will be based on mRNA technology, from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech, and one, from Novavax, will be protein-based and include a portion of the COVID-19 virus spike protein.
—Alice Park, TIME, 28 June 2024
The spike protein is located on the virus’s surface and facilitates its entry into human cells.
—Amber Sayer, Health, 13 June 2024
Instead of encoding for the entire spike protein, the combination vaccine includes two key parts of it in a way that streamlines the shot to require a lower dose—which is useful for a combination vaccine, and also potentially extends its shelf life.
—Alice Park, TIME, 10 June 2024
The name refers to amino acids involved in two new mutations on the virus’s spike protein: phenylalanine (F), leucine (L), arginine (R) and threonine (T).
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for spike protein 
Alice Park, TIME, 28 June 2024
The spike protein is located on the virus’s surface and facilitates its entry into human cells.
—Amber Sayer, Health, 13 June 2024
Instead of encoding for the entire spike protein, the combination vaccine includes two key parts of it in a way that streamlines the shot to require a lower dose—which is useful for a combination vaccine, and also potentially extends its shelf life.
—Alice Park, TIME, 10 June 2024
The name refers to amino acids involved in two new mutations on the virus’s spike protein: phenylalanine (F), leucine (L), arginine (R) and threonine (T).
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for spike protein
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spike protein.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Spike protein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike%20protein. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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