Staphylococcus aureus α-Toxin's Close Contacts Ensure the Kill

Gisela von Hoven; Matthias Husmann

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2018.11.010

Staphylococcus aureus α-Toxin's Close Contacts Ensure the Kill

Trends Microbiol. 2019 Feb;27(2):89-90. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.11.010. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Authors

Gisela von Hoven¹, Matthias Husmann²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: vonhoven@uni-mainz.de.
² Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: husmann@uni-mainz.de.

PMID: 30554769
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2018.11.010

Abstract

The membrane pore-forming α-toxin is an important virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus. Target cells can remove pores from their surface, but recent work shows that α-toxin may undermine this self-defense by clinging to epithelial cell junctions. The findings could lead to the development of novel remedies against S. aureus infections.

Keywords: ADAM10; PLEKHA7; S. aureus α-toxin; adherens junctions; macropinocytosis; pore-forming toxin.

MeSH terms

ADAM10 Protein / drug effects
Adherens Junctions / drug effects
Animals
Bacterial Toxins / toxicity*
Carrier Proteins / drug effects
Cell Line
Epithelial Cells
Hemolysin Proteins / toxicity*
Humans
Membrane Proteins / drug effects
Pinocytosis / drug effects
Staphylococcal Infections / metabolism*
Staphylococcal Infections / therapy
Staphylococcus aureus / pathogenicity*
Virulence Factors

Substances

Bacterial Toxins
Carrier Proteins
Hemolysin Proteins
Membrane Proteins
PLEKHA7 protein, human
Virulence Factors
staphylococcal alpha-toxin
ADAM10 Protein