Definitions

1. noun

A toxin produced by certain bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum, and secreted into the environment, often causing disease in animals and humans.

“The lab studied the exotoxin produced by the bacteria, which caused widespread illness in the community.”

2. noun

A poisonous protein or other substance produced and secreted by some bacteria, often as a virulence factor.

“The researcher isolated the exotoxin from the bacterial culture and analyzed its effects on the host.”