Assays of hemolytic toxins.
The ability to produce a cytolytic toxin contributes to the success of many organisms in a particular niche by such diverse means as lysis of a phagolysosomal membrane of the macrophage by hemolysin from the intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, disruption of leukocyte activity by the Escherichia coli hemolysin, and destruction of invading bacteria by hemolysin from the annelid Glycera dibranchiata. The relative contribution of erythrocyte lysis to survival of the cytolysin producer is still under investigation. Nevertheless, the hemolytic phenotype is both a powerful tool for identifying novel cytolysins and a convenient marker for studying cytolytic activity in established toxins.
Rowe
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GE
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
Welch
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RA
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002840:Chromates / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology; D006461:Hemolysis; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000378:metabolism; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009499:Neutral Red; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002840:Chromates; D003470:Culture Media; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D009499:Neutral Red; C028982:sodium chromate(VI); D010740:Phospholipases; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase