| t-2 toxin | <chemical> (3 alpha,4 beta,8 alpha)-12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene-3,4,8,15-tetrol 4,15-diacetate 8-(3-methylbutanoate). A potent mycotoxin produced in feedstuffs by several species of the genus fusarium. It elicits a severe inflammatory reaction in animals and has teratogenic effects. Chemical name: Trichothec-9-ene-3,4,8,15-tetrol, 12,13-epoxy-, 4,15-diacetate 8-(3-methylbutanoate), (3alpha,4beta,8alpha)- (12 Dec 1998) |
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| tetanus toxin | <protein> Neurotoxin released by Clostridium tetani, becomes active when peptide cleaved proteolytically to heavy (100 kD) and light (50 kD) chains held together by disulphide bond. Heavy chain binds to disialogangliosides (GD2 and GD1b) and part of the peptide (the amino terminal B fragment) forms a pore: light chain is a zinc endopeptidase that specifically attacks synaptobrevin, to block neurotransmitters. See: botulinum toxin (18 Nov 1997) |
| toxin | <pharmacology> A poison, frequently used to refer specifically to a protein produced by some higher plants, certain animals and pathogenic bacteria, which is highly toxic for other living organisms. Such substances are differentiated from the simple chemical poisons and the vegetable alkaloids by their high molecular weight and antigenicity. Origin: Gr toxikon = arrow poison, from Gr. Toxikos = of or for a bow (18 Nov 1997) |
| toxin spectrum | A figure in the form of a spectrum used by Ehrlich to represent the neutralizing power of antitoxin in the presence of toxin, toxone, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| erythrogenic toxin | <protein> Toxin produced by strains of Streptococcus pyogenes responsible for scarlet fever. Three antigenic variants of the toxin are known. It is a small protein that is complexed with hyaluronic acid and can intensify the effects of other toxins such as endotoxin and streptolysin O. (18 Nov 1997) |
| extracellular toxin | <protein> Toxin released from gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as opposed to endotoxins that form part of the cell wall. Examples are cholera, pertussis and diphtheria toxins. Usually specific and highly toxic. (18 Nov 1997) |