<prompt> Which is the staphyloccocal toxin which is responsible for food poisoning?Beta ExotoxinEnterotoxinAlpha ExotoxinToxic Shock Syndrome Toxin TSST-1  <response>: Ans. b EnterotoxinRef: Microbiology by Ananthanarayan and Paniker 8th ed. 198-199 Enterotoxins are responsible for food poisoning and are produced when Staphylococcus Aureus grows in carbohydrate and protien foods. . There are multiple types of enterotoxins A-E, G-I , K-M and these are usually superantigens. The alpha toxin is a potent hemolysin which acts on a broad spectrum of cell membranes , including RBCs. The beta toxin degrades spingomyelin and is also toxic for many types of cells. TSST-1 is the same as enterotoxin F and is therefore also a superantigen and is associated with fever, shock multisystem involvement and a desquamative skin rash. 