endotoxin

endotoxin

 [en´do-tok″sin]

a heat-stable toxin associated with the outer membranes of certain gram-negative bacteria, including Brucella, Neisseria, and Vibrio species. Endotoxins are not secreted but are released only when the cells are disrupted; they are less potent and less specific than the exotoxins; and they do not form toxoids. In large quantities they produce hemorrhagic shock and severe diarrhea; smaller amounts cause fever, altered resistance to bacterial infection, leukopenia followed by leukocytosis, and numerous other biologic effects.

Results of endotoxin release. From Copstead, 1995.

en·do·tox·in

(en-dō-tok'sin),

1. A bacterial toxin not freely liberated into the surrounding medium, in contrast to exotoxin.

2. The complex phospholipid-polysaccharide macromolecules that form an integral part of the outer membrane of a variety of relatively avirulent as well as virulent strains of gram-negative bacteria. The toxins are relatively heat stable, are less potent than most exotoxins, are less specific, and do not form toxoids; on injection, they may cause a state of shock and, in smaller doses, fever and leukopenia followed by leukocytosis; they have the capacity of eliciting the Shwartzman and the Sanarelli-Shwartzman phenomena.

Synonym(s): intracellular toxin

endotoxin

(ĕn′dō-tŏk′sən)

n.

A toxin produced by certain bacteria and released upon destruction of the bacterial cell.

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en′do·tox′ic adj.

endotoxin

Bacterial endotoxin, lipid A Microbiology A heat-stable lipopolysaccharide on the outer coat of gram-negative bacteria–eg, those causing cholera, meningitis, pneumonia, plague, whooping cough, et al Clinical Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, fever, chills, hemorrhagic shock, dec resistance to infection

en·do·tox·in

(en'dō-tok'sin)

1. A bacterial toxin not freely liberated into the surrounding medium, in contrast to exotoxin.

2. The complex phospholipid-polysaccharide macromolecules that form an integral part of the cell wall of strains of gram-negative bacteria. The toxins may cause a state of shock accompanied by severe diarrhea, and, in smaller doses, fever and leukopenia followed by leukocytosis.
Synonym(s): intracellular toxin.

endotoxin

A poisonous lipopolysaccharide formed in the cell wall of a GRAM-NEGATIVE bacterium by means of which the organism causes its damage to the host. Compare exotoxin.

endotoxin

a poison that is produced by and remains inside a living CELL. It is only released upon disintegration of the organism. An example is the delta-endotoxin produced by the BACTERIUM Bacillus thuringiensis, and active against certain insect larvae. GENES for such toxins have been introduced into plants by GENETIC ENGINEERING with a view to conferring insect resistance upon them.

en·do·tox·in

(en'dō-tok'sin)

1. A bacterial toxin not freely liberated into the surrounding medium.

2. The complex phospholipid-polysaccharide macromolecules that form an integral part of the cell wall of strains of gram-negative bacteria; may cause shock, severe diarrhea, and fever.
Synonym(s): intracellular toxin.