From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An
enterotoxin is a
toxin released by a
micro-organism in the
lower Intestine. The enterotoxin alters the
permeability of the intestinal wall. This causes
water and
electrolytes to leak into the intestinal tract, causing
diarrhoea. Examples of organisms secreting enterotoxins are:
Escherichia coli,
Clostridium perfringens,
Vibrio cholerae,
Staphylococcus aureus and
Yersinia enterocolitica. These toxins have A and B subunits. The A subunit is responsible for the loss of permeability of the intestinal endothelial cells. The B subunit acts like a seringe, it sends the A subunit.
de:Enterotoxin
sk:Enterotoxín
nl:Enterotoxine
