| limulus | <zoology> The only existing genus of Merostomata. It includes only a few species from the East Indies, and one (Limulus polyphemus) from the Atlantic coast of North America. Synonym: Molucca crab, king crab, horseshoe crab, and horsefoot. (04 Mar 1998) |
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| limulus lysate test | A test for the rapid detection of Gram-negative bacterial meningitis; Gram-negative endotoxin induces gel formation of Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab) lysates. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Limulus polyphemus | <marine biology, zoology> Now renamed Xiphosura, though Limulus is still in common usage as a name. The king crab or horseshoe crab, found on the Atlantic coast of North America. It is more closely related to the arachnids than the crustacea and horseshoe crabs are the only surviving representatives of the subclass Xiphosura. Its compound eyes have been widely used in studies on visual systems, but it is probably better known from the Limulus amoebocyte lysate LAL) test, LAL is very sensitive to small amounts of endotoxin, clotting rapidly to form a gel and the test is used clinically to test for septicaemia. (04 Mar 1998) |
| limulus test | Sensitive method for detection of bacterial endotoxins and endotoxin-like substances that depends on the in vitro gelation of limulus amebocyte lysate (lal), prepared from the circulating blood (amebocytes) of the horseshoe crab, by the endotoxin or related compound. Used for detection of endotoxin in body fluids and parenteral pharmaceuticals. (12 Dec 1998) |