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
But the document marshals this evidence to support the claim that mRNA vaccines, which are designed to produce spike proteins, cause the same harm – which is not accurate.
—Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But the document marshals this evidence to support the claim that mRNA vaccines, which are designed to produce spike proteins, cause the same harm – which is not accurate.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
This induces an immune system response to the spike protein that is present on the coronavirus.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Once injected into the body, the vaccine releases the mRNA to program the cell to produce the spike proteins like those on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spike protein
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Deborah Fuller, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But the document marshals this evidence to support the claim that mRNA vaccines, which are designed to produce spike proteins, cause the same harm – which is not accurate.
—Deborah Fuller, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025
This induces an immune system response to the spike protein that is present on the coronavirus.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Once injected into the body, the vaccine releases the mRNA to program the cell to produce the spike proteins like those on the surface of SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spike protein
Cite this Entry
“Spike protein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spike%20protein. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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