Bacterial toxins are toxic substances that are produced and released by bacteria to target other bacterial or host cells. Many microbial toxins promote infection and disease by directly damaging host tissues and by disabling the immune system. Examples of bacterial toxins include anthrax lethal toxin produced by Bacillus anthracis, botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, pertussis toxin produced by Bordetella pertussis bacteria which causes whooping cough, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) which is the toxin most often associated with food poisoning.
