a dominant strain

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dominant strain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing genetics, biology, or even metaphorically in social or cultural discussions to describe a prevailing influence or characteristic. Example: "In the study of infectious diseases, researchers identified a dominant strain of the virus that was responsible for the recent outbreak."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Interestingly, in addition to RIG-I, the PRR for IAV, a virus with the capacity to silence MDA5 also emerged as a dominant strain in wild-type, but not in MDA5-deficient mice.

Cell Reports

Transfer of a colonized patient from Center A to Center B was associated with an increase in B cepacia complex infection in Center B, all of which was with the Center A dominant strain.

The Journal of Pediatrics

When the key advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration met in February and March, the experts were aware that a new flu strain had just started to emerge in Asia, Europe and North America and was quite apt to become a dominant strain by the winter.

The New York Times

Friday Night Dinner combines the structure of a traditional British domestic sitcom – from And Mother Makes Five to My Family – with the dark farce, always dangerously close to grossness, that has become a dominant strain in the genre more recently through shows such as The Worst Week of My Life, Peep Show and The Inbetweeners.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

And today it is a dominant strain in liberalism, as witnessed by the work of S.I.

SEP

Here, we describe a high-throughput genomics approach that provides a high-resolution view of the epidemiology and microevolution of a dominant strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

EFFECTIVENESS -- Because it is impossible to predict which strain of influenza will strike in any given season, this year's vaccine was designed for strains other than Fujian A, the dominant strain this year.

The New York Times

Analyzing samples of relapse patients, they observed greater viral diversity at baseline, and an emergence at relapse of a new dominant strain, or the emergence of a minor dominant population [ 41].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Indeed, for certain influenzas, parallel changes may serve as a predictor of the emergence of a new dominant strain [40].

Plosone

A 2006 model of dimensional reduction (compaction) of viral mutational complexity derives two-dimensional Cartesian mutational maps (2DMM) that exhibit an emergent dominant strain as a small and distinct cluster of as few as 10 strains.

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications

Today one of the country's foremost flu experts called for the national helpline to be shut down to stop hundreds of thousands of doses of Tamiflu going out in an unregulated way, which could render it useless when a more dominant strain returns in the autumn.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing outbreaks or epidemics, use "a dominant strain" to indicate the most prevalent and impactful variant. Be specific about the context (e.g., geographic location, time period) to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "a dominant strain" without providing relevant context. Always specify the type of organism (e.g., virus, bacteria) and, if possible, the specific situation where the strain is dominant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dominant strain" functions as a noun phrase, where "dominant" acts as a pre-modifying adjective specifying the type of strain. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

20%

Academia

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a dominant strain" is a commonly used phrase, especially in scientific and news contexts, to describe the most prevalent or influential variant of a microorganism. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While it's important to provide context to avoid overgeneralization, the phrase itself is a valuable tool for clear and accurate communication. Consider alternatives like "a prevailing strain" or "a leading strain" depending on the intended nuance. Understanding its proper use will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prevailing strain

Replaces "dominant" with "prevailing", indicating widespread existence.

a predominant strain

Uses "predominant" instead of "dominant", highlighting superiority in number or influence.

the prevalent strain

Uses "prevalent" to emphasize the widespread presence of the strain.

a leading strain

Substitutes "dominant" with "leading", emphasizing prominence and influence.

a major strain

Replaces "dominant" with "major", indicating significant impact or size.

a primary strain

Substitutes "dominant" with "primary", focusing on the main or most important strain.

the reigning strain

Substitutes "dominant" with "reigning", suggesting current control or supremacy.

the most common strain

Rephrases to directly state the strain's commonality.

a widespread strain

Focuses on the broad distribution of the strain.

an ascendant strain

Highlights the rising influence of the strain.

FAQs

How can I use "a dominant strain" in a sentence?

You can use "a dominant strain" to describe the most prevalent or influential variant of a microorganism in a specific context. For example: "Researchers identified a dominant strain of influenza circulating this season."

What's a good alternative to "a dominant strain"?

Alternatives include "a prevailing strain", "a leading strain", or "a predominant strain", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always negative to describe a strain as "dominant"?

Not necessarily. While "a dominant strain" often refers to disease-causing organisms, it's a descriptive term. Whether it's positive or negative depends on the context. It simply indicates prevalence or influence.

How does "a dominant strain" relate to antibiotic resistance?

If a resistant strain of bacteria becomes the "dominant strain" in an infection, treatment can be significantly more challenging. This is because standard antibiotics may no longer be effective.