Question

This toxin is capable of killing platelets, both RBC and WBC, as well as endothelial cells?

A) Toxin B
B) LOS toxin
C) Shiga toxin
D) Lipid A
E) Alpha toxin

Answer 1

The toxin that can kill platelets, RBC, WBC, and endothelial cells is the Shiga toxin. It hampers protein synthesis in endothelial cells, leading to potentially serious health issues like HUS.

Step-by-step explanation:

The toxin capable of killing platelets, red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and endothelial cells is the Shiga toxin. Shiga toxin, produced by S. dysenteriae type 1, targets the endothelial cells of small blood vessels and affects protein synthesis within these cells, leading to hemorrhaging and potentially severe complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), particularly damaging the kidneys.

Membrane-disrupting toxins like the alpha toxin from Staphylococcus aureus and Lipid A, a component of the endotoxin from gram-negative bacteria, have different mechanisms of action. Alpha toxin forms pores in the cell membranes, causing cell lysis, while Lipid A triggers an inflammatory response that can be detrimental at high concentrations. However, neither Alpha toxin nor Lipid A is described as having the broad spectrum of cellular targets mentioned in the question.