diphtheria toxin

toxin /tox·in/ (tok´sin) a poison, especially a protein or conjugated protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals, and pathogenic bacteria, that is highly poisonous for other living organisms.

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bacterial toxins  toxins produced by bacteria, including exotoxins, endotoxins, and toxic enzymes.

botulinal toxin , botulinum toxin, botulinus toxin an exotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum that produces paralysis by blocking the release of acetylcholine in the central nervous system; there are seven immunologically distinct types (A–G). Type A is used therapeutically to inhibit muscular spasm in the treatment of dystonic disorders such as blepharospasm and strabismus, as well as to treat wrinkles of the upper face; type B is used to treat cervical dystonia.

clostridial toxin  one produced by species of Clostridium, including those causing botulinus, gas gangrene, and tetanus.

Dick toxin  streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin.

diphtheria toxin  a protein exotoxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae that is primarily responsible for the pathogenesis of diphtheritic infection; it is an enzyme that inhibits protein synthesis.

erythrogenic toxin  streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin.

extracellular toxin  exotoxin.

gas gangrene toxin  an exotoxin produced by Clostridium perfringens that causes gas gangrene; at least 10 types have been identified.

intracellular toxin  endotoxin.

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

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diphtheria toxin

Etymology: Gk, diphtheria + toxikon, poison

the filtrate of a broth culture used to prepare an intradermal injectable form of toxin for Schick tests. A positive test result is characterized by an inflammatory reaction at the point of injection, whereas circulating antibodies in the blood cause a negative test result, indicating immunity.

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diphtheria toxin

Infectious disease A 62 kD protein responsible for C diphtheriae's cardiotoxic and neurotoxic effects, and mucosal damage. See Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Diphtheria.