What it means
A harmful substance made by an organism. Some bacteria cause illness mainly through their toxins: C. difficilesee dif-uh-SEELClostridioides difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that can infect the colon (the large intestine).Full entry releases toxins that damage the colon, and tetanus and botulism toxins affect the nerves. Snake and insect venoms are toxins too. A toxoid is a toxin made harmless and used in a vaccine, such as the tetanus vaccine.
At a glance
| Spanish | toxina |
|---|---|
| Also written | toxins |
Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
bacterium
A tiny one-celled living thing, seen only under a microscope, of which some kinds cause disease; the plural is bacteria.
pathogen
A germ, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus or parasite, that can cause disease.
organism
A living thing, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, parasite, plant or animal.