Dictionary
in•ter•fer•on
Pronunciation: (in"tur-fēr'on), [key]—
n.
1. Biochem.any of various proteins, produced by virus-infected cells, that inhibit reproduction of the invading virus and induce resistance to further infection.
2. Pharm.Also called
alpha-interferon. an interferon produced by genetically engineered bacteria and harvested for use against hairy cell leukemia.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.