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.
Synonyms
  • Pathogenic variant
  • Infectious type
  • Savage strain