Medical term:
exotoxin
exotoxin
[ek´so-tok″sin]a potent toxin formed and excreted by the bacterial cell and found free in the surrounding medium; exotoxins are the most poisonous substances known. They are protein in nature and heat labile, and are detoxified with retention of antigenicity by treatment with formaldehyde. Bacteria of the genus Clostridium are the most frequent producers of exotoxins; diphtheria, botulism, and tetanus are all caused by such toxins. adj., adj ex´otoxic.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
ex·o·tox·in
(ek'sō-tok'sin),A specific, soluble, antigenic, usually heat labile, injurious substance elaborated by certain gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria; it is formed within the cell, but is released into the environment where it is rapidly active in extremely small amounts; most exotoxins are proteinaceous (MW 70,000-900,000) and can have the toxic portion of the molecule destroyed by heat, prolonged storage, or chemicals; the nontoxic but antigenic form is a toxoid.
Synonym(s): ectotoxin, extracellular toxin
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
exotoxin
(ĕk′sō-tŏk′sĭn)n.
A poisonous substance secreted by a microorganism and released into the medium in which it grows.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
ex·o·tox·in
(eks'ō-tok'sin)A specific, soluble, antigenic, usually heat labile, injurious substance elaborated by some bacterial species; it is formed within the cell but is released into the environment where it is rapidly active in extremely small amounts; most exotoxins are proteinaceous in nature.
Synonym(s): extracellular toxin.
Synonym(s): extracellular toxin.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
exotoxin
A powerful protein poison, formed by some bacteria, which is released and which may cause severe damage either locally or, if carried away by the blood, at a remote distance. Diphtheria exotoxin destroys throat lining tissue, where the organism settles, but can also travel to damage the heart and the kidneys.Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
exotoxin
a poison produced by a living CELL and released into the environment. It can affect various ORGANS and systems of the body.Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
Exotoxin
A poisonous secretion produced by bacilli which is carried in the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
Mentioned in: Diphtheria
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ex·o·tox·in
(eks'ō-tok'sin)A specific, soluble, antigenic, usually heat labile, injurious substance elaborated by certain gram-positive or gram-negative bacteria.
Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012
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