toxin

[tok´sin]

a poison, especially a protein or conjugated protein produced by certain animals, higher plants, and pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial toxins characteristically do not cause symptoms until after a period of incubation while the microbes multiply, or (as happens with botulism) the preformed toxin reaches and affects the tissue. Usually only a few toxin-producing agents are introduced into the body, and it is not until there are enough of them to overwhelm the leukocytes and other types of antibodies that symptoms occur. In some cases of food poisoning, symptoms are almost immediate because the toxin is taken directly with the food. Toxins can cause antitoxins to form in the body, thus providing a means for establishing immunity to certain diseases.

bacterial t's toxins produced by bacteria, including exotoxins, endotoxins, enterotoxins, neurotoxins, and toxic enzymes. See also toxin.

botulinal toxin (botulinum toxin) (botulinus toxin) one of seven type-specific, immunologically differentiable exotoxins (types A to G) produced by Clostridium botulinum,neurotoxins usually found in imperfectly canned or preserved foods. They cause botulism by preventing release of acetylcholine by the cholinergic fibers. Type A is one of the most powerful poisons known; it is also used therapeutically by injection to inhibit muscular spasm in the treatment of dystonic disorders such as blepharospasm and strabismus, to treat wrinkles of the upper face, and to reduce anal sphincter pressure to promote healing of chronic anal fissure. Type B is injected in treatment of cervical dystonia. Called also botulin.

cholera toxin an exotoxin produced by Vibrio cholerae; a protein enterotoxin that binds to the membrane of enteric cells and stimulates the adenylate cyclase system, causing the hypersecretion of chloride and bicarbonate ions, resulting in increased fluid secretion and the severe diarrhea characteristic of cholera.

clostridial toxin one elaborated by species of Clostridium, including those causing botulism (botulinus toxin), gas gangrene (gas gangrene toxin), and tetanus (tetanus toxin). In addition, C. difficile produces an exotoxin causing severe intestinal necrosis and C. perfringens produces exotoxins causing gas gangrene, intestinal necrosis, hemolysis, cardiotoxicity, and deoxyribonuclease and hyaluronidase activity, as well as an enterotoxin causing food poisoning.

Dick toxin erythrogenic toxin.

diphtheria toxin a protein exotoxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae that is primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of diphtheria and related infections; it is an enzyme that activates transferase II of the mammalian protein synthesizing system.

diphtheria toxin for Schick test a sterile solution of the diluted, standardized toxic products of Corynebacterium diphtheriae; used as a dermal reactivity indicator in the schick test of immunity to diphtheria.

dysentery toxin any of various exotoxins produced by species of Shigella; the one formed by S. dysenteriae serotype 1 is a potent neurotoxin with hemorrhagic and paralytic properties.

erythrogenic toxin a bacterial toxin from certain strains of Streptococcus pyogenes that produces an erythematous reaction when injected intradermally and is responsible for the rash in scarlet fever.

extracellular toxin exotoxin.

gas gangrene toxin an exotoxin that causes gas gangrene; there are at least 10 types produced by Clostridium perfringens and others produced by C. noriyi and C. septicum.

streptococcal toxin a mixture of exotoxins formed by Streptococcus pyogenes.

tetanus toxin the potent exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani, consisting of two components, one a neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) and the other a hemolysin (tetanolysin).

bot·u·li·nus tox·in

a potent exotoxin that is highly neurotoxic derived from Clostridium botulinum. Occurs in seven serotypes, noted as A-G (A, B, and E are responsible for most human disease). Serotype A is a variant used in medical experiments.

Synonym(s): botulin, botulismotoxin

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

botulin

(bŏch′ə-lĭn)

Any of several enzymes that are produced by botulinum bacteria and induce the paralysis of botulism by interfering with the ability of neurons to release acetylcholine at nerve-muscle junctures. Botulin is used as an antispasmodic and a treatment for wrinkles by paralyzing facial muscles. Also called botulinum toxin.

botulinum toxin

Medspeak
50-kD neurotoxin with 7 distinct serotypes, produced by strains of Clostridium botulinum, which are billed as the most potent neurotoxins known; type C1 has an LD50 of 32 ng; type A, BTX-A (the cosmetic Botox) has an LD50 of 40-56 ng.

Clinical findings
Nausea, diarrhoea, weakness, dizziness, respiratory paralysis, death.

Botulinum toxin (botulin)

A neurotoxin made by Clostridium botulinum; causes paralysis in high doses, but is used medically in small, localized doses to treat disorders associated with involuntary muscle contraction and spasms, in addition to strabismus.

Mentioned in: Eye Muscle Surgery

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The raw material for the feed came either from Terjarv Frys, the manufacturer, or one of its suppliers, but the source of the botulin is not yet known.

Raw material likely source of poison in Finnish fox feed

Scientists in recent years have identified antibodies that people and animals make when exposed to botulin or a botulism vaccine.

Drug neutralizes toxin in mouse tests. (New Antidote to Botulism)

The bacterium incubates in moderate temperatures of 39 [degrees] F to 122 [degrees] F--its ideal temp being about 90 [degrees] F The botulin toxin cannot develop at normal refrigeration temps of below 40 [degrees] F or at cooking temps of 140 [degrees] F and up.

THE NEW SCIENCE OF FREEZING AND CANNING

As early as April 1990, the cult had tried to release botulin toxin from a vehicle driving around the Diet and other government buildings in central Tokyo.

Aum Shinrikyo: once and future threat?

"For those unable or unwilling to tackle the more technically demanding tasks of nerve gas manufacture or botulin culture," one chapter begins, "Mother Nature's bounty has provided a considerably more low-tech alternative: Ricin." Ricin, we learn, "is an exceedingly toxic protein found in castor oil bean," good for both "assassination" and "mass-attack situations." One big advantage is the "delay in the onset of symptoms," which means that "a target most likely will not realize it is under attack." As exhilarating as it is disquieting, this kind of thing can't be read without a thought to who else has read it, and in this way the book acquires a certain potential energy in your hands.

THE CRIMINAL WITHIN

As early as 1972, American authorities broke an ultra-right-wing terrorist organization and discovered a weapons cache that included 80 pounds of botulin toxin, a deadly food poison.

The future face of terrorism

Nisin has been lassified as Generally Recognized AS Safe (GRAS) by the FDA for extending shelf life of processed cheeses - evn under adverse storage conditions - and to help protect processed cheeses against botulin poisoning.

Nisin prevents spoilage of processed cheese

For several years, she has also been suffering from hemifacial spasm on the left side and was treated with botulin toxin with good clinical effect; the last application was 5 months before.

BILATERAL VERTEBRAL ARTERY DISSECTION --MULTIPLE ARTERY AFFECTION OR EARLY RECURRENCE?

Different options such as intralesional injections of bleomycin or corticosteroids either alone or combined with cryotherapy, compression therapy, silicone sheeting, radiation therapy, laser therapy, 5-fluorouracil, interferon, retinoids, imiquimod 5% cream, tacrolimus, verapamil and botulin toxin have been used, most of them with the aim of achieving the best functional and cosmetic solution possible.

A clinical study in management of hypertrophic scars and keloids with intralesional injection of Bleomycin

Botox is a drug prepared from botulin used to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralysing facial muscles.

I'd never say never to Botox; BERTIE EX SLAMS PRESSURE ON WOMEN

The animals were killed by botulin poisoning caused by the feed that had been delivered by Terjarv Frys, a local company.

A total of 50,000 foxes dead in Finland

Welsh common sense prevailed on Nicola HT when 55-year-old Laurina from Cwmbran revealed she had fabulous skin without going near botulin toxin type A.

The patter of tiny crows' feet