Mechanisms of action of bacterial toxins

摘要

The term toxin is derived from the Greek term for 'bow poison' (toxikon). Thus, the classic definition of a bacterial toxin is a protein secreted into the culture supernatant by a bacterium and predicted to act at a distance from the site of its production in vivo. Recent data defining the action of bacterial proteins delivered to cells, in particular, by the type III secretion system suggests that a broader view of the concept of a bacterial toxin may be entertained. Namely, that proteins delivereddirectly to cells may act to alter cell function in a manner reminiscent of more classical bacterial toxins. This talk will focus on toxins which act on the intestine to alter physiology and which have been linked to human and/or animal enteric infectio