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Several bacteriophages contain toxin genes that become incorporated into the host bacteria genome through infection and render the bacteria toxic. [9] Many well known bacterial toxins are produced from specific strains of the bacteria species that have obtained toxigenicity through lysogenic conversion, pseudolysogeny, or horizontal gene ...
(Ribosome structure is one of the most important differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and, in a sense, these exotoxins are the bacterial equivalent of antibiotics such as clindamycin.) Some exotoxins act directly at the ribosome to inhibit protein synthesis. An example is Shiga toxin. Other toxins act at elongation factor-2.
[6] [7] The difference between venom and poison is the delivery method of the toxin. [6] Venoms are toxins that are actively delivered by being injected via a bite or sting through a venom apparatus , such as fangs or a stinger , in a process called envenomation , [ 8 ] whereas poisons are toxins that are passively delivered by being swallowed ...
The word toxin does not specify method of delivery (as opposed to venom, a toxin delivered via a bite, sting, etc.). Poison is a related but broader term that encompasses both toxins and toxicants; poisons may enter the body through any means - typically inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. Toxin, toxicant, and poison are often used ...
As bacterial and viral infections can both cause the same kinds of symptoms, it can be difficult to distinguish which is the cause of a specific infection. [11] Distinguishing the two is important, since viral infections cannot be cured by antibiotics whereas bacterial infections can. [12]
A toxoid is an inactivated toxin (usually an exotoxin) whose toxicity has been suppressed either by chemical or heat treatment, while other properties, typically immunogenicity, are maintained. [1] Toxins are secreted by bacteria, whereas toxoids are altered form of toxins; toxoids are not secreted by bacteria.
Shiga toxins are a family of related toxins with two major groups, Stx1 and Stx2, expressed by genes considered to be part of the genome of lambdoid prophages. [1] The toxins are named after Kiyoshi Shiga , who first described the bacterial origin of dysentery caused by Shigella dysenteriae . [ 2 ]
The toxins interact with intestinal epithelium and can cause systematic complications in humans like HUS and cerebral dysfunction if they enter the circulation. [13] In EHEC, Shiga toxins are encoded by lysogenic bacteriophages. The toxins bind to cell-surface glycolipid receptor Gb3, which causes the cell to take the toxin in via endocytosis.