Toxigenicity

Definition

Toxigenicity is the ability of a microorganism to produce toxins that contribute to its pathogenicity. These toxins can damage host tissues or interfere with the normal functioning of the host's cells.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Toxigenic bacteria often carry genes for toxin production on plasmids or bacteriophages.
2. Exotoxins are proteins secreted by bacteria, while endotoxins are part of the bacterial cell wall and released upon cell lysis.
3. The potency of a toxin is usually measured by its lethal dose (LD50), which indicates the amount needed to kill 50% of a test population.
4. Some viral pathogens also exhibit toxigenicity by producing toxic proteins during infection.
5. Understanding toxigenicity is crucial for developing targeted therapies and vaccines against various infectious diseases.

Review Questions

• What are the primary differences between exotoxins and endotoxins?
• How do plasmids and bacteriophages contribute to bacterial toxigenicity?
• Why is measuring a toxin's lethal dose (LD50) important in microbiology?

Related terms

Virulence Factors: Molecules produced by pathogens that contribute to their ability to cause disease.

Exotoxin: A potent, extracellular toxin secreted by some bacteria.

Endotoxin: A toxin that is a structural component of gram-negative bacterial cell walls, released when the bacteria die or divide.