mycotoxin

mycotoxin
/muy'koh tok"sin/, n. Pathol.
a toxin produced by a fungus.
[1960-65; MYCO- + TOXIN]

* * *

Toxin produced by a fungus.

Numerous and varied, mycotoxins can cause hallucinations, skin inflammation, liver damage, hemorrhages, miscarriage, convulsions, neurological disturbances, and/or death in livestock and humans. The best-known mycotoxins are aflatoxin, ergot toxin, and the agents of mushroom poisoning.

* * *

      toxic substance produced by a fungus (i.e., a member of the kingdom Fungi). Mycotoxins occur in great number and variety; their effects can include hallucinations, skin inflammation, severe liver damage, hemorrhages, abortion, convulsions, neurological disturbances, and death in livestock and humans. Aflatoxins (aflatoxin) are a complex of mycotoxins produced by species of the soil saprophyte Aspergillus. They may cause liver disease and may be carcinogenic.

      Food is particularly susceptible to fungal infections at almost every stage of storage or production. Some poisonous mushrooms produce symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and certain genera produce such effects as euphoria and hallucinations, but most are not considered to be lethal. One wild mushroom, Amanita phalloides, the destroying angel, or death cup, is fatal when eaten.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • mycotoxin — [mī′kō täks΄in, mī′kətäks΄in] n. a toxin produced by a fungus …   English World dictionary

  • Mycotoxin — A mycotoxin (from Greek μύκης (mykes, mukos) “fungus” and Latin (toxicum) “poison”)[1][2] is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by organisms of the fungus kingdom, commonly known as molds.[3][4] The term ‘mycotoxin’ is usually reserved for the …   Wikipedia

  • mycotoxin — mikotoksinas statusas Aprobuotas sritis augalų apsauga apibrėžtis Kai kurių grybų gaminama nuodinga medžiaga. atitikmenys: angl. mycotoxin vok. Mykotoxin, n rus. микотоксин, m pranc. mycotoxine, m ryšiai: sinonimas – grybinis toksinas šaltinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • mycotoxin — mikotoksinai statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Kai kurių grybų gaminamos nuodingos medžiagos. atitikmenys: angl. mycotoxin vok. Mykotoxin, n rus. микотоксины …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • mycotoxin — noun Date: 1962 a toxic substance produced by a fungus and especially a mold …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mycotoxin — n. [Gr. mykes, fungus; toxikon, poison] A low molecular weight metabolite of fungi which is poisonous to animals …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • mycotoxin — noun any substance, produced by a mold or fungus, that is injurious to vertebrates upon ingestion, inhalation or skin contact …   Wiktionary

  • mycotoxin — Toxic compound produced by certain fungi; some are used for medicinal purposes; e.g., muscarine, psilocybin. * * * my·co·tox·in täk sən n a poisonous substance produced by a fungus and esp. a mold see AFLATOXIN …   Medical dictionary

  • mycotoxin — noun any toxic substance produced by a fungus …   English new terms dictionary

  • mycotoxin — my·co·toxin …   English syllables

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”