Antitoxin (Gr. Anti — Against, Toxicon —-Anger)

Antitoxin (Gr. Anti - Against, Toxicon - Poison)

An antitoxin is an antibody that is formed in the body in response to the penetration of a toxin. Toxins are poisonous substances, usually of a protein nature, that are produced by certain bacteria. When a toxin enters the body, the immune system recognizes it as a foreign substance and begins to produce special antibodies to neutralize the toxin. These antibodies are called antitoxins. They bind to toxin molecules, preventing them from having a harmful effect on the cells and tissues of the body. Thus, antitoxins play an important role in protecting the body from bacterial toxins.