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Translocation of Toxins by Gram-Negative Pathogens Using the Type III Secretion System

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Microbial Toxins

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI))

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Abstract

The type 3 secretion (T3S) system is a syringe-like proteinaceous apparatus used by several Gram-negative bacteria to inject toxic/effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. Three proteins are essential for protein translocation into the host cell. One of these proteins forms a tip complex at the end of a needle that extends from the bacterial surface and plays a role in regulating secretion in response to host cell contact. The other two proteins, or translocators, insert into the target membrane and form a pore through which proteins are injected. Compared to other components of the T3S machinery, the needle tip and translocators show low levels of sequence identity among different T3S families, which suggests that these essential components adapted to the specific needs of the bacteria that use these T3S systems.

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Acknowledgments

This publication was made possible by Grant Number GM097414 from the National Institute of Health (A.P.H).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Massachusetts, Lederle GRT, Rm 1228 710 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Arjan J. Vermeulen & Alejandro P. Heuck

  2. Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Lederle GRT, Rm 1228 710 N. Pleasant St., Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Yuzhou Tang & Alejandro P. Heuck

Authors
  1. Arjan J. Vermeulen
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  2. Yuzhou Tang
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  3. Alejandro P. Heuck
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Arjan J. Vermeulen , Yuzhou Tang or Alejandro P. Heuck .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Wilson College, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA

    Brad Stiles

  2. Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine and Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Faculty of Microbiology, University of Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, Costa Rica

    Alberto Alape-Girón

  3. Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada

    J. Daniel Dubreuil

  4. College of Pharmacy, Roseman University of Health Sciences, Henderson, Nevada, USA

    Manas Mandal

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Vermeulen, A.J., Tang, Y., Heuck, A.P. (2018). Translocation of Toxins by Gram-Negative Pathogens Using the Type III Secretion System. In: Stiles, B., Alape-Girón, A., Dubreuil, J., Mandal, M. (eds) Microbial Toxins. Toxinology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6449-1_29

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