Enterotoxin

Enterotoxin

An enterotoxin (not to be confused with endotoxin) is a protein toxin released by a microorganism in the intestine. Enterotoxins are frequently cytotoxic and kill cells by altering the permeability of the epithelial cells of the intestinal wall. They are mostly pore forming toxins, secreted by bacteria, that assemble to form pores in cell membranes. This causes the cells to die.

The death of cells that form the barrier between the intestinal lumen and the surrounding tissue causes interstitial fluid, composed of water and electrolytes to leak into the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea.

Organisms secreting enterotoxins

Examples of organisms secreting enterotoxins are: "", "Clostridium perfringens", "Vibrio cholerae", "Staphylococcus aureus", "Rotavirus" and "Yersinia enterocolitica".

ee also

* NSP4 (rotavirus)
*Endotoxin
*Exotoxin

External links

*


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • enterotoxin — noun a cytotoxin specific for the cells of the intestinal mucosa • Hypernyms: ↑cytotoxin • Hyponyms: ↑staphylococcal enterotoxin …   Useful english dictionary

  • enterotoxin — noun Date: circa 1928 a toxin that is produced by microorganisms (as some staphylococci) and causes gastrointestinal symptoms (as in some forms of food poisoning or cholera) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Enterotoxin — Enterotoxine (griechisch von enteron = Darm und toxíne = giftig) sind Gifte, welche den Darm angreifen und oft Verursacher von Nahrungsmittelvergiftungen mit nachfolgender Gastroenteritis sind. Es handelt sich um Proteine, die von manchen… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • enterotoxin — (en ter o tok sin) A toxin specifically affecting the cells of the intestinal mucosa, causing vomiting and diarrhea …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • enterotoxin — /en teuh roh tok sin/, n. Pathol. a toxic substance produced by certain bacteria that on ingestion causes violent vomiting and diarrhea. [1935 40; ENTERO + TOXIN] * * * …   Universalium

  • enterotoxin — noun Any of several toxins produced by intestinal bacteria …   Wiktionary

  • enterotoxin — A cytotoxin specific for the cells of the intestinal mucosa. Clostridium perfringens e. a toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens that alters membrane permeability. cytotonic e. an e. which morphologically changes, but does not kill, the target …   Medical dictionary

  • Enterotoxin — Entero|toxi̱n [↑Enteron u. ↑Toxin] s; s, e: Bakteriengift, das zu schweren Vergiftungserscheinungen mit Brechdurchfällen und Kollaps führt …   Das Wörterbuch medizinischer Fachausdrücke

  • Enterotoxin — En|te|ro|to|xin das; s, e: Bakteriengift, das zu schweren Vergiftungserscheinungen mit Brechdurchfällen u. ↑Kollaps führt (Med.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • enterotoxin — n. toxin which originates in the intestine (causes food poisoning) …   English contemporary dictionary

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