Microbial toxins are toxins produced by
micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi. Microbial toxins promote
infection and disease by directly damaging host tissues and by disabling the
immune system. Some bacterial toxins, such as Botulinum
neurotoxins, are the most potent natural toxins known. However, microbial
toxins also have important uses in medical science and research. Potential applications
of toxin research include combating microbial virulence, the development of
novel anticancer drugs and other medicines, and the use of toxins as tools in neurobiology
and cellular biology.
Bacterial toxin
Bacteria generate toxins which can be classified as either exotoxins or endotoxins.
Exotoxins are generated and actively secreted; endotoxins remain part of the
bacteria. Usually, an endotoxin is part of the bacterial outer membrane, and it is not
released until the bacterium is killed by the immune
system. The body's response to an endotoxin can involve severe inflammation.
In general, the inflammation process is usually considered beneficial to the
infected host, but if the reaction is severe enough, it can lead to sepsis.
Some bacterial toxins can be used in the treatment of tumors.
Toxinosis is pathogenesis caused by the bacterial
toxin alone, not necessarily involving bacterial infection (e.g. when the bacteria
have died, but have already produced toxin, which are ingested). It can be
caused by Staphylococcus aureus toxins, for
example.
Botulinum neurotoxin
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the causative
agents of the deadly food poisoning disease, botulism, and could pose a major
biological warfare threat due to their extreme toxicity and ease of production.
They also serve as powerful tools to treat an ever expanding list of medical
conditions.
Tetanus toxin
Clostridium tetani produces tetanus toxin
(TeNT protein), which leads to a fatal condition known as tetanus in many
vertebrates (including humans) and invertebrates.
Staphylococcal toxins
Immune evasion proteins from Staphylococcus aureus have a significant
conservation of protein structures and a range of activities that are all
directed at the two key elements of host immunity, complement and neutrophils.
These secreted virulence factors assist the bacterium in surviving immune
response mechanisms.
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