Cytolysin
Cytolysin is a type of toxin produced by certain bacteria that is capable of lysing cells by forming pores in the cell membrane. This process is known as cytolysis, which can lead to cell death. Cytolysins are a major virulence factor for many pathogenic bacteria.
Types of Cytolysin[edit | edit source]
There are several types of cytolysins, each with unique properties and mechanisms of action. Some of the most well-known include:
- Streptolysin: This is a cytolysin produced by Streptococcus bacteria. There are two types: Streptolysin O and Streptolysin S. Streptolysin O is oxygen-labile and antigenic, while Streptolysin S is oxygen-stable and non-antigenic.
- Listeriolysin O: This is a cytolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that causes listeriosis. Listeriolysin O is crucial for the bacterium's ability to escape from the phagosome into the cytosol of the host cell.
- Pneumolysin: This is a cytolysin produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes pneumonia. Pneumolysin is a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, meaning it binds to cholesterol in the host cell membrane to form pores.
Mechanism of Action[edit | edit source]
Cytolysins exert their effects by forming pores in the cell membrane of the host organism. This disrupts the normal function of the membrane, leading to a loss of essential molecules and ions, disruption of the membrane potential, and ultimately, cell death.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Cytolysins are a major virulence factor for many pathogenic bacteria, contributing to their ability to cause disease. They are also a target for the development of new antibacterial therapies.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Cytolysin Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD