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Pore-Forming Bacterial Protein Toxins: An Overview

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Pore-Forming Toxins

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 257))

Abstract

Among the ca. 325 protein toxins produced by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria so far identified (Alouf 2000), at least 115 (35%) belong to the group of the so-called membrane-damaging toxins (MDTs). The most characteristic feature of these effectors is to damage or disrupt the cytoplasmic phospholipid bilayer membrane (7–9nm) of appropriate human and (or) animal cells. The impairment of membrane integrity causes osmotic imbalance, reflected by cell swelling due to water influx and dissipation of electrochemical gradients, which may lead to cell lysis and death (Bernheimer 1970; Alouf 1977; Arbuthnott 1982).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Dr. Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France

    J. E. Alouf

  2. Domaine de la Ronce, 7 Avenue des Cèdres, 92410, Ville d’Avray, France

    J. E. Alouf

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  1. J. E. Alouf
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  1. Departement de Biochimie Sciences II, Quai Ernest-Ansermet, 1211, Genéve 4, Switzerland

    F. Gisou van der Goot

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Alouf, J.E. (2001). Pore-Forming Bacterial Protein Toxins: An Overview. In: van der Goot, F.G. (eds) Pore-Forming Toxins. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 257. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56508-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-56508-3_1

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