human leukocyte antigen
nounDefinition of human leukocyte antigen
: any of various proteins that are encoded by genes of the major histocompatibility complex in humans and are found on the surface of many cell types (such as white blood cells)
broadly
: hla sense 2
Examples of human leukocyte antigen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Everyone has a human leukocyte antigen (HLA), a gene complex that is related to the immune system that, among other functions, regulates the kind of bacteria that is found on the surface of the skin. — Elizabeth King, Allure, "Why Mosquitos Bite Some People More Than Others," 8 Aug. 2019 Lacking antibodies from vaccines or earlier infections, the human immune system relies on T cells, which attack foreign proteins, and human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) which bind to short pieces of viral proteins. — Quanta Magazine, "Decoding Flu Viruses Before an Outbreak," 29 Aug. 2013 Donors must be prepared to undergo extensive medical and psychological screenings, including a check for the human leukocyte antigen HLA, which plays a role in the body’s immune response to foreign substances. — Deanese Williams-harris, chicagotribune.com, "People are using social media to improve their odds of finding organ donors: 'Doing it can save my life'," 6 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'human leukocyte antigen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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