Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin by β-cyclodextrin derivatives

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin (ETX) is considered as one of the most dangerous potential biological weapons. The goal of this work was to identify inhibitors of ETX using a novel approach for the inactivation of pore-forming toxins. The approach is based on the blocking of the target pore with molecules having the same symmetry as the pore itself. About 200 various β-cyclodextrin derivatives were screened for inhibitors of ETX activity using a colorimetric cell viability assay. Several compounds with dose-dependent activities at low micromolar concentrations have been identified. The same compounds were also able to inhibit lethal toxin of Bacillus anthracis.

Keywords: Bacillus anthracis; Clostridium perfringens; Lethal toxin; Toxin inhibitors; β-cyclodextrin derivatives; ε-toxin.