toxin

Term: toxin

Coined:  by chemist Ludwig Brieger  (1849–1919) 

Origin: Anc Greek τοξικόν/toxikon(= poison used to poison arrow heads)
 > τόξον/toxon(bow)

Definition:

A  peptide or protein that is produced by living organisms and is capable of causing disease. Toxins are subgrouped to endotoxins (toxic structural molecule of the bacteria ) and exotoxins (excreted by microorganism)