toksoideja

Toksoideja, or toxoids in English, are inactivated toxins that are used to create vaccines. Toxins are poisonous substances produced by certain bacteria, viruses, or other organisms. When these toxins are introduced into the body in their active form, they can cause serious illness. However, by chemically altering them, typically with formaldehyde, the toxins can be rendered harmless while still retaining their ability to stimulate an immune response. This modified, non-toxic form is known as a toxoid.

The principle behind toxoid vaccines is that the body, when exposed to the toxoid, recognizes it as a foreign substance. This recognition triggers the immune system to produce antibodies specifically designed to neutralize the original toxin. If the vaccinated individual is later exposed to the actual active toxin, their immune system is already prepared. The pre-existing antibodies can quickly bind to and neutralize the toxin, preventing or significantly reducing the severity of the disease.

Common examples of vaccines that utilize toxoids include those for tetanus and diphtheria. The tetanus toxoid vaccine protects against the toxin produced by *Clostridium tetani* bacteria, which causes tetanus. Similarly, the diphtheria toxoid vaccine targets the toxin produced by *Corynebacterium diphtheriae*, the bacterium responsible for diphtheria. These toxoid-based vaccines have been highly effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of these once-common and often fatal diseases, forming a cornerstone of public health immunization programs worldwide.