Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Toxin
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Biological == {{More citations needed section|date=May 2021}} The term "biotoxin" is sometimes used to explicitly confirm the biological origin as opposed to environmental or anthropogenic origins.<ref name="urlbiotoxin β Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary">{{cite web |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biotoxin |title=biotoxin β Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary |access-date=13 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{DorlandsDict|one/000012874|biotoxin}}</ref> Biotoxins can be classified by their mechanism of delivery as [[poison]]s (passively transferred via ingestion, inhalation, or absorption across the skin), [[toxungen]]s (actively transferred to the target's surface by spitting, spraying, or smearing), or [[venom]]s (delivered through a wound generated by a bite, sting, or other such action).<ref name="10.1111/brv.12062"/> They can also be classified by their source, such as [[mycotoxin|fungal biotoxins]], [[microbial toxin]]s, [[phytotoxin|plant biotoxins]], or animal biotoxins.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Biotoxins: What are Biotoxins? |url=https://www.biosciences-labs.bham.ac.uk/exhibit/whatare.html |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.biosciences-labs.bham.ac.uk}}</ref> Toxins produced by [[microorganism]]s are important [[virulence]] determinants responsible for microbial [[pathogenicity]] and/or evasion of the host [[immune response]].<ref name= ProftT>{{cite book |veditors = Proft T | year=2009 |title=Microbial Toxins: Current Research and Future Trends | publisher=Caister Academic Press | isbn= 978-1-904455-44-8}}</ref> Biotoxins vary greatly in purpose and mechanism, and can be highly complex (the [[venom]] of the [[cone snail]] can contain over 100 unique [[peptide]]s, which target specific nerve channels or receptors).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Robinson |first1=Samuel D |last2=Norton |first2=Raymond S |title=Conotoxin Gene Superfamilies |journal = Marine Drugs |volume = 12 |issue = 12 |pages = 6058β6101 |date = 17 December 2014 | doi = 10.3390/md12126058 |pmid = 25522317 | pmc = 4278219|doi-access=free }}</ref> Biotoxins in nature have two primary functions: * [[Predation]], such as in the [[spider]], [[snake]], [[scorpion]], [[jellyfish]], and [[wasp]] * Defense as in the [[bee]], [[ant]], [[termite]], [[honey bee]], [[wasp]], [[poison dart frog]] and [[Phytotoxin#Toxins_produced_by_plants|plants producing toxins]] ** The toxins used as defense in species among the [[poison dart frog]] can also be used for medicinal purposes Some of the more well known types of biotoxins include: * [[Cyanotoxin]]s, produced by [[cyanobacteria]] * [[Dinotoxin]]s, produced by [[dinoflagellate]]s * Necrotoxins cause [[necrosis]] (i.e., death) in the cells they encounter.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary]] |date=2012 |publisher=Saunders/Elsevier |location=Philadelphia, PA |isbn=978-1-4160-6257-8 |page=1236 |edition=32nd}}</ref> Necrotoxins spread through the bloodstream.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} In humans, [[skin]] and [[muscle]] tissues are most sensitive to necrotoxins.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} Organisms that possess necrotoxins include: ** The [[brown recluse spider|brown recluse]] or "fiddle back" spider ** Most [[rattlesnake]]s and [[vipers]] produce [[phospholipase]] and various [[trypsin]]-like [[serine proteases]] ** [[Bitis arietans|Puff adder]] ** [[Necrotizing fasciitis]] (caused by the "flesh eating" bacterium ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'') β produces a [[pore-forming toxin|pore forming toxin]] * [[Neurotoxin]]s primarily affect the nervous systems of animals. The group neurotoxins generally consists of [[:Category:Ion channel toxins|ion channel toxins]] that disrupt ion channel conductance. Organisms that possess neurotoxins include: ** The [[Latrodectus|black widow]] spider. ** Most [[scorpion]]s ** The [[box jellyfish]] ** [[Elapidae|Elapid]] snakes ** The [[cone snail]] ** The [[Blue-ringed octopus]] ** [[Venomous fish]] ** [[Frogs]] ** ''[[Palythoa]]'' [[coral]] ** Various different types of [[algae]], [[cyanobacteria]] and [[dinoflagellates]] * [[Myotoxin]]s are small, basic [[peptide]]s found in [[snake]] and [[lizard]] [[Venom (poison)|venoms]], They cause muscle tissue damage by a non-enzymatic receptor based mechanism. Organisms that possess myotoxins include: ** [[rattlesnake]]s ** [[Mexican beaded lizard]] * [[Cytotoxicity|Cytotoxins]] are toxic at the level of individual cells, either in a non-specific fashion or only in certain types of living cells: ** [[Ricin]], from [[castor bean]]s ** [[Apitoxin]], from [[honey bee]]s ** [[T-2 mycotoxin]], from certain toxic [[mushroom]]s ** [[Cardiotoxin III]], from [[Chinese cobra]] ** [[Hemotoxin]], from [[viper]]s === Weaponry === Many living organisms employ toxins offensively or defensively. A relatively small number of toxins are known to have the potential to cause widespread sickness or casualties. They are often inexpensive and easily available, and in some cases it is possible to refine them outside the laboratory.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Janik |first1=Edyta |last2=Ceremuga |first2=Michal |last3=Saluk-Bijak |first3=Joanna |last4=Bijak |first4=Michal |date=2019-03-08 |title=Biological Toxins as the Potential Tools for Bioterrorism |journal=International Journal of Molecular Sciences |volume=20 |issue=5 |pages=1181 |doi=10.3390/ijms20051181 |issn=1422-0067 |pmc=6429496 |pmid=30857127|doi-access=free }}</ref> As biotoxins act quickly, and are highly toxic even at low doses, they can be more efficient than chemical agents.<ref name=":1" /> Due to these factors, it is vital to raise awareness of the clinical symptoms of biotoxin poisoning, and to develop effective countermeasures including rapid investigation, response, and treatment.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Editorial |first=Team |title=Toxins: Venom within Living Cells or Organisms |url=https://www.unrevealedfiles.com/toxins-venom-within-living-cells-or-organisms/ |access-date=2021-07-17 |website=Unrevealed Files |date=24 May 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=PΕusa|first=Tadeusz|date=September 2015|title=[Toxins as a biological weapon]|url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26449572/#:~:text=Toxins%20list%20is%20extensive,%20but,include%20tetrodotoxin,%20brevetoxin%20and%20saxitoxin.|journal=Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski|volume=39|issue=231|pages=131β133|issn=1426-9686|pmid=26449572}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)