toxigenic

Toxigenic is an adjective used to describe organisms that are capable of producing toxins. In microbiology and related fields, toxigenicity refers to the ability to synthesize and secrete compounds that can disrupt biological processes in a host. Toxins may be secondary metabolites or primary virulence factors and can harm host cells, tissues, or organ systems. The term is used across diverse taxa, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and some plants.

In bacteria, toxigenicity is often linked to specific genes encoding toxins, which may be located on chromosomes, plasmids, or bacteriophages. Toxin production can be influenced by environmental conditions and growth phase, and a strain may be toxigenic without necessarily causing disease in all hosts.

Common examples include botulinum toxin from Clostridium botulinum, one of the most potent known toxins; staphylococcal enterotoxins from Staphylococcus aureus; Shiga toxins in certain Escherichia coli (STEC). Fungi may produce mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and ochratoxins that contaminate food and feed. Other toxigenic organisms include cyanobacteria producing microcystins and algal toxins.

Assessment of toxigenicity involves toxin detection assays, genetic testing for toxin genes, and evaluation of production under relevant environmental conditions. In public health and food safety, identifying toxigenic strains helps manage risks associated with foodborne illness and contamination, and informs strategies for surveillance, control, and mitigation.