A toxin that has been treated (commonly with formaldehyde) so as to destroy its toxic property but retain its antigenicity, i.e., its capability of stimulating the production of antitoxin antibodies and thus of producing an active immunity.For specific toxoids, see entries under vaccine. SYN: anatoxin. [toxin + G. eidos, resemblance]
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tox·oid 'täk-.sȯid n a toxin of a pathogenic organism treated so as to destroy its toxicity but leave it capable of inducing the formation of antibodies on injection <diphtheria \toxoid> called also anatoxin
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n.
a preparation of the poisonous material (toxin) that is produced by dangerous infective organisms, such as those of tetanus and diphtheria, and has been rendered harmless by chemical treatment while retaining its antigenic activity. Toxoids are used in vaccine.
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tox·oid (tokґsoid) [toxo- + -oid] a modified or inactivated bacterial exotoxin that has lost toxicity but retains the properties of combining with, or stimulating the formation of, antitoxin.Medical dictionary. 2011.