exotoxin

Germ-released toxin

Exotoxin is a toxic protein secreted by bacteria into surrounding tissue, as opposed to endotoxins that remain within bacterial cell walls.

Exotoxins cause many severe diseases: botulinum toxin paralyzes muscles, tetanus toxin causes lockjaw, diphtheria toxin destroys tissue.

The cholera exotoxin triggers severe dehydration.

Some exotoxins have medical uses—botulinum toxin is Botox.

bacterial

cytotoxin

Agent destroying cells

  • botulinumParalysis-causing bacterial species
  • diphtheriaBacterial throat membrane disease
  • choleraBacterial disease causing fatal dehydration

pertussis · staphylococcus · streptococcus · anthrax · plasmid · secreted · protein · virulence · pathogenesis · toxoid

disease

botulism

Bacterial food poisoning

  • tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
  • diphtheriaBacterial throat membrane disease
  • choleraBacterial disease causing fatal dehydration

dysentery · sepsis · whooping-cough · gangrene · paralysis · toxemia · infection · symptoms · mortality · morbidity

mechanism

receptor

Signal-receiving molecule

enzymatic · signal · cascade · cellular · lysis · apoptosis · necrosis · disruption · thermolabile · denaturation

medical

toxoid

Neutralized poison retaining immunogenicity

immunity · treatment · serum · prophylaxis · diagnosis · therapy · immunization · booster · antiserum

Categories
Opposites
secretion/localization

exotoxinendotoxin

Bacterial wall toxin

toxicity/harm

exotoxinantitoxin

Toxin-neutralizing antibody

antidote · probiotic · antivenin · toxoid

Family

toxic, intoxicated, toxin, intoxicate, intoxication, toxicity, detoxify, exoskeleton, antitoxin

Familiarity
Top 1,000,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Rated G