In: Biology
There are two types of bacterial toxin:
a) Endotoxin: Present in gram negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharide, a component of cell wall acts as toxin. Response is non-specific by IL1, IL12, IFN alpha and IFN gama. Responsible for septic shock syndrome: fever and inflammation.
b) Exotoxin: Produced by gram positive bacteria. Response is variable depending upon toxin. E.g.
i. Diphtheria toxin: Cornybacterium diphtheriae is causative agent and acts as ADP-ribosylase of eukaryotic elongation factor 2.
ii. Cholera toxin: Toxin released from Vibrio cholerae ,ADP ribosylate G alpha stimulatory and secrets cAMP in high amount.
iii. Tatenus toxin: Clostridium tetani secreted this toxin acts as Zn dependent endoprotease and cause spasmatic paralysis.
iv. Shiga like toxin: Certain species of E.coli produce this toxin which encode RNA N glysosidase leads to cell death or apoptosis.
v. Anthrax toxin: Bacillus anthracis secrete this and it acts as a calmodulin dependent adenylate cyclase. Induce apoptosis.
vi. Pseudomonous toxin: Secreted by Pseudomonous aeruginosa and acts same as diphtheria toxin.