Alpha toxin
Encyclopedia
Alpha Toxin or alpha-toxin refers to several different protein toxins produced by bacteria. Alpha toxin may be:
- Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxinStaphylococcus aureus alpha toxinAlpha-toxin, also known as alpha-hemolysin , is the major cytotoxic agent released by bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the first identified member of the pore forming beta-barrel toxin family. This toxin consists mostly of beta-sheets with only about 10% alpha-helices. The hla gene on the S...
, a membrane-disrupting toxin that creates pores causing hemolysisHemolysisHemolysis —from the Greek meaning "blood" and meaning a "loosing", "setting free" or "releasing"—is the rupturing of erythrocytes and the release of their contents into surrounding fluid...
and tissue damage. - Clostridium perfringens alpha toxinClostridium perfringens alpha toxinClostridium perfringens alpha toxin is a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium perfringens and is responsible for gas gangrene and myonecrosis in infected tissues. The toxin also possesses hemolytic activity....
, a membrane-disrupting toxin with phospholipase CPhospholipase CPhosphoinositide phospholipase C is a family of eukaryotic intracellular enzymes that play an important role in signal transduction processes. In general, this enzyme is denoted as Phospholipase C, although three other families of phospholipase C enzymes have been identified in bacteria and in...
activity, which is directly responsible for gas gangreneGas gangreneGas gangrene is a bacterial infection that produces gas tissues in gangrene. It is a deadly form of gangrene usually caused by Clostridium perfringens bacteria. It is a medical emergency....
and myonecrosis. - Pseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas aeruginosaPseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in hypoxic atmospheres, and has, thus, colonized many...
alpha toxin.