Bacterial toxins: Offensive, defensive, or something else altogether?

PLoS Pathogens

Rachel M. McLoughlin¹  Ruth C. Massey²  Andrew Preston³  Justine K. Rudkin⁴ 

[1] APC Microbiome Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;Department of Biology and Biochemistry and the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, United Kingdom;Host-Pathogen Interactions Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

关键词: Toxins;    Bacterial pathogens;    Bacterial biofilms;    Staphylococcus aureus;    Host cells;    Biofilms;    Bordetella pertussis;    Nose;   

DOI  :  10.1371/journal.ppat.1006452

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Public Library of Science

【 摘 要 】

The secretion of proteins that damage host tissue is well established as integral to the infectious processes of many bacterial pathogens. However, recent advances in our understanding of the activity of toxins suggest that the attributes we have assigned to them from early in vitro experimentation have misled us into thinking of them as merely destructive tools. Here, we will discuss the multifarious ways in which toxins contribute to the lifestyle of bacteria and, by considering their activity from an evolutionary perspective, demonstrate how this extends far beyond their ability to destroy host tissue.

【 授权许可】

CC BY