Definition of exotoxin in English:
exotoxin
nounˈɛksə(ʊ)tɒksɪnˈeksōˌtäksən
Microbiology A toxin released by a living bacterial cell into its surroundings.
Compare with endotoxin
Example sentencesExamples
- Pollitt's landmark work has shown that a bacterial exotoxin - Streptococcus bovis - has the capability to cause lamellar separation at the basement membrane of laminae of the foot.
- The diphtheria bacillus also secretes an exotoxin that can cause other symptoms such as inflammation of the heart.
- The integrity of the gastrointestinal system is vital to preventing formation and release of exotoxins into systemic circulation.
- Scarlet fever usually follows an acute infection of the tonsils or skin by group A beta-hemolytic streptococci that produce an erythrogenic exotoxin.
- A particularly useful subject for studies with polymers has been the bacterial exotoxin [alpha] hemolysin, which forms large pores in lipid bilayers.