Microbial toxin
Microbial Toxin
Microbial toxin (pronunciation: /maɪˈkroʊbiəl ˈtɒksɪn/) is a type of toxin produced by microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These toxins can be harmful to other organisms, including humans, and are often responsible for the symptoms associated with various infectious diseases.
Etymology
The term "microbial toxin" is derived from the Greek words "mikros" (meaning small) and "bios" (meaning life), referring to the microscopic organisms that produce these toxins. The word "toxin" comes from the Greek "toxikon," which originally referred to a poison used on arrows.
Types of Microbial Toxins
Microbial toxins can be classified into several types, including:
- Endotoxins: These are toxins that are part of the cell wall of certain bacteria. They are released when the bacteria die and the cell wall breaks down.
- Exotoxins: These are toxins that are released by bacteria into the surrounding environment.
- Mycotoxins: These are toxins produced by fungi.
- Enterotoxins: These are toxins that target the intestines and can cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
Related Terms
- Toxicology: The study of the effects of toxins on living organisms.
- Pathogen: A microorganism that can cause disease.
- Infection: The invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents.
- Antitoxin: A substance that neutralizes a specific toxin.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Microbial toxin
- Wikipedia's article - Microbial toxin
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski