infected cell

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebiologymedical

   A cell that has been invaded by a virus, bacterium, or other germ and is affected by it.

   Grammar: Countable: an infected cell, infected cells. Often followed by 'infected with + germ'.

   Patterns

   • infected cell
   • infected cells
   • infected with something

   The virus enters the infected cell and forces it to make more copies of the virus.

   Under the microscope, the infected cells looked swollen and damaged.

   Researchers stained the infected cells so they could see where the bacteria were hiding.

2. 2nouncountablebiologyspecialist

   In immunology, a cell displaying markers of a germ on its surface, which immune cells then attack.

   Grammar: Usually in scientific writing, often plural: the immune system destroys infected cells.

   Patterns

   • kill infected cells
   • target infected cells

   Killer T cells recognize infected cells and destroy them.

   The vaccine helps the body find and clear infected cells more quickly.

Word forms

Common combinations

infected with a virus

The sample contained cells infected with a virus.

kill infected cells

The immune response kills infected cells before the virus can spread.

infected cell culture

They grew an infected cell culture in the lab.

Synonyms and how they differ

host cell

A cell in which a germ lives, whether or not it shows signs of damage; 'infected cell' stresses the infection.

Opposites

Word family

infect verb

To pass a germ into a person, animal, or cell.

infection noun

An illness or condition caused by a germ.

infectious adjective

Able to be passed from one person or organism to another.

Commonly confused: infected cell or affected cell?

Practice

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