Definition

A group of microorganisms that have a specific set of antigens, which are used to identify them.

Example

The laboratory identified the bacteria by its serovar.

Conversation

Have you heard about the new serovar that was identified recently?

Yeah, I read an article about it; it's pretty interesting!

I wonder how they determine which serovar a microorganism belongs to.

They usually look at the antigens on the surface to classify them.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Serovar is formed from "sero-" (from Latin "serum", meaning serum or fluid) and "var" (from Latin "varius", meaning varied or different). The term refers to a distinct variation within a species of microorganisms, particularly in the context of serological classification.

Memory Tip

Think of 'serum' ('sero-') as a fluid that helps identify 'varied' ('var') types of microorganisms, which is what a serovar represents.

Visually Confused Words