melittin

English

Etymology

Borrowed from German Melittin, from Attic Greek μέλιττα (mélitta, “bee”) +‎ -in, from German -in.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /mɛˈlɪt.ɪn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /məˈlɪt.ən/

Noun

melittin (countable and uncountable, plural melittins)

1. (biochemistry) A peptide, containing 26 amino acids, which is present in bee venom and has been used experimentally as an antibacterial agent, especially against penicillin-resistant bacteria.
   • 2016 August 18, Avi Steinberg, “The Connoisseur of Pain”, in The New York Times Magazine‎^[1]:

     If enough bees sting an animal, the cardiotoxin component of melittin will work to arrest its heart.

References

• “melittin”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “melittin”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.

Anagrams

• limettin