TOXIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does toxin mean? 

• TOXIN (noun)
  The noun TOXIN has 1 sense:

1. a poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal species

  Familiarity information: TOXIN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TOXIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A poisonous substance produced during the metabolism and growth of certain microorganisms and some higher plant and animal species

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("toxin" is a kind of...):

poison; poisonous substance; toxicant (any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "toxin"):

ricin; ricin toxin (a toxic protein extracted from castor beans; used as a chemical reagent; can be used as a bioweapon)

animal toxin; zootoxin (a toxin resembling bacterial toxins in its antigenic properties that is found in the fluids of certain animals)

bacterial toxin (any endotoxin or exotoxin formed in or elaborated by bacterial cells)

cytotoxin (any substance that has a toxic effect on cells)

endotoxin (a toxin that is confined inside the microorganisms and is released only when the microorganisms are broken down or die)

exotoxin (a toxin that is secreted by microorganisms into the surrounding medium)

hepatotoxin (any toxin that affects the liver)

nephrotoxin (any toxin that affects the kidneys)

neurolysin; neurotoxin (any toxin that affects neural tissues)

phytotoxin; plant toxin (any substance produced by plants that is similar in its properties to extracellular bacterial toxin)

Derivation:

toxic (of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison)

 Context examples 

The condition resulting from the spread of bacterial products (toxins) by the bloodstream.

(Bacterial Toxemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Disease caused by the spread of bacteria and their toxins in the bloodstream.

(Bacterial Toxemia, NCI Dictionary)

It is a type of bispecific ligand-directed toxin.

(Anti-CD19/Anti-CD22 Bispecific Immunotoxin DT2219ARL, NCI Dictionary)

An immunotoxin consisting of two scFv ligands recognizing human CD19 and CD22 linked to the first 389 amino acids of diphtheria toxin (DT), DT 390, with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Anti-CD19/Anti-CD22 Bispecific Immunotoxin DT2219ARL, NCI Thesaurus)

Prior to receiving toxin injections, eight participants reported moderate or severe disability and after treatment, six of those patients noted an improvement.

(Scientists identify spasm in women with endometriosis-associated chronic pelvic pain, National Institutes of Health)

These toxins may help kill cancer cells without harming normal cells.

(Bacterial toxin, NCI Dictionary)

Other causes include toxins and drugs.

(Megaloblastic Anemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Toxins present in food or water.

(Nutritional Toxin, NCI Thesaurus)

Ontak is a type of immunotoxin and a type of fusion toxin.

(Ontak, NCI Dictionary)

Neurodegenerative disorders also occur in people who drink large amounts of alcohol or are exposed to certain viruses or toxins.

(Neurodegenerative disorder, NCI Dictionary)