New insights into the functions of anthrax toxin.
Anthrax is the disease caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Two toxins secreted by B. anthracis - lethal toxin (LT) and oedema toxin (OT) - contribute significantly to virulence. Although these toxins have been studied for half a century, recent evidence indicates that LT and OT have several roles during infection not previously ascribed to them. Research on toxin-induced effects other than cytolysis of target cells has revealed that LT and OT influence cell types previously thought to be insensitive to toxin. Multiple host factors that confer sensitivity to anthrax toxin have been identified recently, and evidence indicates that the toxins probably contribute to colonisation and invasion of the host. Additionally, the toxins are now known to cause a wide spectrum of tissue and organ pathophysiologies associated with anthrax. Taken together, these new findings indicate that anthrax-toxin-associated pathogenesis is much more complex than has been traditionally recognised.
Banks
David J
DJ
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, 609 Charles E. Young Dr. East, Molecular Sciences Building, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. djbanks@ucla.edu
Ward
Sabrina C
SC
Bradley
Kenneth A
KA
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016207:Cytokines; C030325:anthrax toxin