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Toxigenesis involves production of toxins by pathogenic bacteria. It is one of the major methods
of giving birth to diseases and medical disorders by bacteria. 2 categories of toxins that lead to
various infections and diseases include; endotoxins and exotoxins and they are different based on
their chemical nature. Endotoxins are bacterial toxins consisting of lipids (lipopolysaccharides)
and exotoxins consist of proteins.
What is Endotoxins?
Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides toxin released by Gram – bacteria. Endotoxins are cell bound
and are produced only when the cell lyses. Endotoxins are present in the outer sheath of the cell
wall in a gram – bacteria. Endotoxins are also called as lipopolysaccharides and are present in E
coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus influenza, Neisseria, and Vibrio cholerae.
Endotoxins are usually secreted by developing bacteria due to the actions of specific antibiotics
or at the action of phagocytic digestion.
Endotoxins show less potency and are not very active on their substrate. They exhibit heat
stability. Outer wall of bacteria is impenetrable to bigger molecules and molecules that cannot
dissolve in water and safeguard from the outer environment.
These toxins are a part of this safeguarding activity. It has sticking function on a host during the
time of colonization. Also, endotoxins show poor antigenicity.
What is Exotoxins?
Exotoxins are toxins that are released extracellularly with the development of the organism.
Exotoxins are contagious toxins that spread from the focus of infection to other parts of the body
and cause damage. They are soluble proteins that acts as enzymes. An exotoxin has the ability to
cause damage to the host by destructing cells or interfering with the normal cell metabolism.
Exotoxins are highly potent and can cause extreme harm to the host. Exotoxins are excreted
through their rapid growth or during their cell lysis. Both gram + and gram – bacteria produce
exotoxins.
Exotoxins possess more toxicity as compared to endotoxins and they are distinguishing to certain
bacteria strains. Exotoxins cause diseases only specific to that contamination. For e.g.
Clostridium tetani forms tetanus toxin. There exist 3 major categories of exotoxins: Enterotoxins,
neurotoxins and cytotoxins. These types indicate about the location of activity. Enterotoxemic
activity can be seen on Gastro intestinal tract. Neurotoxins exhibit their functions on neurons and
Cytotoxins destruct the host cell functioning. Some of the health disorders caused by exotoxins
include Cholera, tetanus and Diphtheria. Antigenicity in exotoxins is quite high. Exotoxins
trigger the immune system and secrete antitoxins to nullify the toxin.
Figure 1. Structure of Endotoxins and Exotoxins