toxin-antitoxin

American  

[tok-sin-an-ti-tok-sin, -an-tee-, -an-ti-tok-sin, -an-tee-] / ˈtɒk sɪnˌæn tɪˈtɒk sɪn, -ˌæn ti-, -ˈæn tɪˌtɒk sɪn, -ˈæn ti- /

noun

Immunology.

1. a mixture of toxin and antitoxin, formerly used to induce active immunity against certain diseases, especially diphtheria.

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toxin-antitoxin British  

noun

1. a mixture of a specific toxin and antitoxin. The diphtheria toxin-antitoxin was formerly used in the US for active immunization

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Etymology

Origin of toxin-antitoxin

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

toxin-antitoxin

Parents in the 1950s were generally enthusiastic about the polio vaccine, but 30 years earlier, parents whose children were encouraged to receive the novel diphtheria toxin-antitoxin were more hesitant.

From Slate ● Mar. 16, 2021

Besides, the immunity that came from toxin-antitoxin injections was not long-lasting and didn’t eliminate the “asymptomatic carrier” problem.

From Slate ● Feb. 9, 2021

By the time the Board of Health decided to make a big push to immunize as many children as possible with toxin-antitoxin, it had tried many other methods of controlling the disease.

From Slate ● Feb. 9, 2021

When the child was one year old, she received toxin-antitoxin against diphtheria.

From Time Magazine Archive

Aboard each car he loaded a doctor, two nurses and a refrigerator full of toxin-antitoxin.

From Time Magazine Archive