toxin-antitoxin

toxin-antitoxin, mixture of a poisonous substance, or toxin, with an antitoxin, or antibody, in such proportion that a large percentage of the toxin is neutralized by the antitoxin. Although formerly used to immunize an individual against disease, toxin-antitoxin mixtures have been largely supplanted by toxoids. See immunity.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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