Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

virulent-strain

Noun

/ˈvɪr.jʊ.lənt streɪn/

Definition

A virulent strain refers to a type of microorganism, such as bacteria or virus, that is highly infectious and capable of causing severe disease.

Examples

The virulent strain of the flu virus led to a widespread outbreak this season.
Scientists are monitoring a virulent strain of bacteria that is resistant to common antibiotics.

Meaning

The term ‘virulent strain’ is commonly used in microbiology and medicine to describe a particularly aggressive variant of a pathogen that can lead to significant health issues.