leukocidin

A heat-labile substance that is elaborated by many strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and pneumococci and manifests a destructive action on leukocytes, with or without lysis of the cells. [leukocyte + L. caedo, to kill]

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leu·ko·ci·din or chiefly Brit leu·co·ci·din .lü-kə-'sīd-ən n a heat-stable substance (as that produced by some bacteria) capable of killing or destroying leukocytes

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leu·ko·ci·din (loo″ko-siґdin) [leuko- + L. caedere to kill] a substance toxic to leukocytes; specifically, an exotoxin produced by some pathogenic staphylococci and streptococci that destroys leukocytes by lysis of the cytoplasmic granules and is partially responsible for the pathogenicity of the organisms.