From signal transduction to protein toxins-a narrative review about milestones on the research route of C. difficile toxins

Klaus Aktories

doi:10.1007/s00210-022-02300-9

From signal transduction to protein toxins-a narrative review about milestones on the research route of C. difficile toxins

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2023 Feb;396(2):173-190. doi: 10.1007/s00210-022-02300-9. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

Author

Klaus Aktories¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany. klaus.aktories@pharmakol.uni-freiburg.de.

Abstract

Selected findings about Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) toxins are presented in a narrative review. Starting with a personal view on research about G proteins, adenylyl cyclase, and ADP-ribosylating toxins in the laboratory of Günter Schultz in Heidelberg, milestones of C. difficile toxin research are presented with the focus on toxin B (TcdB), covering toxin structure, receptor binding, toxin up-take and refolding, the intracellular actions of TcdB, and the treatment of C. difficile infection.

Keywords: Bacterial protein toxins; C. difficile ADP-ribosyltransferase CDT; C. difficile toxin TcdB; G proteins; Pseudomembranous colitis; Toxin receptors; Toxin up-take.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
Bacterial Toxins*
Clostridioides difficile* / metabolism
Signal Transduction

Substances

Bacterial Toxins
trimethylaminocarboxyldihydroboran
Bacterial Proteins