exotoxin

(noun)

Any toxin secreted by a microorganism into the surrounding environment.

Related Terms

  • enterotoxin
  • Shine-Dalgarno sequence
  • cytokines
  • scarlet fever
  • endotoxin

Examples of exotoxin in the following topics:

  • Scarlet Fever

    • Scarlet fever is caused by secretion of pyrogenic (fever inducing) exotoxins by the infected Streptococcus.
    • Exotoxin A (speA) is probably the best studied of these toxins.
  • Toxins

    • Bacterial toxins are typically classified under two major categories: exotoxins or endotoxins.
    • Exotoxins are immediately released into the surrounding environment whereas endotoxins are not released until the bacteria is killed by the immune system.
    • This exotoxin affects intracellular processes and creates unregulated pores within the cell membranes of the host.
    • Another example of an exotoxin includes an enterotoxin produced by the bacteria Staphlycoccal aureus.
  • Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

    • Any S. aureus infection can cause the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, a cutaneous reaction to exotoxin absorbed into the bloodstream.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.