endotoxin
Definition
Noun: A poisonous substance (toxin) that is a structural component of the cell wall of certain bacteria, primarily Gram-negative bacteria. It is released into the surrounding environment only when the bacterial cell is damaged, lysed (broken apart), or dies.
Usage
"Endotoxin" is a scientific and medical term. It is used to describe a specific type of bacterial poison that is not actively secreted but is part of the cell itself. It is a key concept in microbiology, immunology, and discussions of septic shock.
Examples
- The severe fever and drop in blood pressure were caused by endotoxin released from the bacteria in the bloodstream.
- Laboratory tests are used to detect the presence of endotoxin in pharmaceutical products and medical devices.
- Unlike exotoxins, which are secreted, endotoxin remains within the bacterial cell wall until the cell disintegrates.
Advanced Usage
- Endotoxin shock (or septic shock): A severe, life-threatening whole-body inflammatory condition caused by a systemic response to endotoxin in the blood.
- Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) test: A standard laboratory assay used to detect and quantify endotoxin.
Variants and Related Words
- Endotoxic (adjective): Relating to or caused by an endotoxin.
- Example: The patient exhibited classic endotoxic shock.
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): The biochemical name for the complex molecule that constitutes the endotoxin of Gram-negative bacteria. The terms "endotoxin" and "LPS" are often used interchangeably in context.
Synonyms
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (This is the specific chemical name for the endotoxin molecule.)
Antonyms / Contrasting Terms
- Exotoxin: A toxin that is actively secreted or released by a living bacterium into its surroundings.
Noun
-
a toxin that is confined inside the microorganisms and is released only when the microorganisms are broken down or die
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