saxitoxin

1 9.9

A very strong poison made by tiny sea creatures that collects in shellfish and can make people very sick

noun
/sækˈsɪtəˌkɪn/

Specialized

: saxitoxina

Saxitoxin is among the most potent of the toxins produced by HABs.

Examples

Crown ethers emit a fluorescent compound that glows more brightly in ultraviolet light when saxitoxin is present.

Academic text (2003)
Contaminated shellfish can carry saxitoxin, leading to food poisoning in humans.
Leblanc has discovered molecules called crown ethers that recognize saxitoxin but ignore nontoxic compounds in coastal waters.

Academic text (2003)
Roger Leblanc at the University of Miami has found a substance that lights up only in water in which an algal toxin called saxitoxin is present.

Academic text (2003)
Researchers are investigating the effects of saxitoxin on human nervous systems.
After eating shellfish that contained saxitoxin, many people reported serious health problems.

How Toxic

saxitoxin

Specialized

1 9.9

neurotoxin

Specialized

9 7.8

toxin

Specialized

143 5.3

Surface Forms

saxitoxin singular

saxitoxins plural

Morphology

saxitoxin = toxin (semi-transparent) = saxi + toxin + saxi

The component 'toxin' is clear, but 'saxi' is a non‑productive combining form (from a species/genus name) and does not convey its specific referent to most learners.

Etymology

Saxitoxin comes from the name of a clam, Saxidomus, plus the word toxin, which means 'poison'. It was first found in those clams, so the name helps you remember it is a dangerous shellfish poison.