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A toxin (Gk.
toxikon "(poison) for use on arrows,") is a
poisonous substance produced by living cells or
organisms. Toxins are nearly always proteins that are
capable of causing disease on contact or absorption with
body tissues by interacting with biological
macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors.
Toxins vary greatly in their severity, ranging from
usually minor and acute (as in a bee sting) to almost
immediately deadly (as in botulinum toxin).
Biotoxins vary greatly in purpose and mechanism, and can
be highly complex (the venom of the cone snail contains
dozens of small proteins, each targeting a specific
nerve channel or receptor), or relatively small protein.
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