T2

T2 is an abbreviation used in several fields to denote different concepts. Notable uses include a major science fiction film, a medical condition, a mycotoxin, and a bacteriophage. Because of its varied meanings, context is required to determine which T2 is being referenced.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day, commonly shortened to T2, is a 1991 American science fiction action film directed by James Cameron. It is the sequel to The Terminator (1984) and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, and Edward Furlong. The film follows a cyborg protecting a young boy from a more advanced Terminator from the future. T2 was acclaimed for its practical and computer-generated effects and won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

In health contexts, T2 often stands for type 2 diabetes mellitus, a chronic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and inadequate insulin secretion resulting in high blood glucose. Risk factors include obesity, aging, and family history. Management focuses on lifestyle changes, glucose-lowering medications (such as metformin), and sometimes insulin therapy to prevent complications.

T-2 toxin, also known as T-2 mycotoxin, is a potent trichothecene produced by Fusarium species. It contaminates cereals and other crops and can cause immune suppression, gastrointestinal damage, and other symptoms in humans and animals. Safety regulations address allowable levels in food imports and products.

T2 bacteriophage is a virus that infects Escherichia coli and has been widely used in the study of molecular biology. It belongs to the T-even group of bacteriophages, possesses a double-stranded DNA genome, an icosahedral head, and a contractile tail, and it played a foundational role in early genetics and the understanding of virus replication.