Diphtheria toxoid (DT) (DT)

Diphtheria toxoid is a non-toxic, immunogenic derivative of the exotoxin produced by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, created through chemical inactivation with formaldehyde. It serves as the central component of diphtheria vaccines, designed to elicit a protective immune response without causing the disease itself. When administered, the toxoid is recognized by antigen-presenting cells, which then activate T and B lymphocytes to produce neutralizing antibodies known as antitoxins. These antibodies are highly effective at preventing the systemic complications of diphtheria, such as myocarditis and neuritis, by blocking the toxin's ability to inhibit protein synthesis in host cells. Additionally, diphtheria toxoid is widely utilized as a carrier protein in conjugate vaccines to improve the immune response to bacterial polysaccharides in infants and young children (StatPearls, 2023; CDC, 2021).

Other names

Diphtheria vaccine antigenInactivated diphtheria toxinCorynebacterium diphtheriae toxoidFormaldehyde-treated diphtheria toxin

Diphtheria toxoid acts as an immunogen that triggers the production of neutralizing IgG antibodies (antitoxins) by B lymphocytes. These antibodies specifically bind to the active diphtheria toxin produced during infection, preventing the toxin from binding to the heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) receptor on host cells and subsequently blocking its entry and toxic effects (StatPearls, 2023; CDC, 2021).