title: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin: from threat to therapy.
abstract: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the human oral cavity and is the causative agent for localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP), an aggressive form of periodontal disease that occurs in adolescents. A. actinomycetemcomitans secretes a protein toxin, leukotoxin (LtxA), which helps the bacterium evade the host immune response during infection. LtxA is a membrane-active toxin that specifically targets white blood cells (WBCs). In this review, we discuss recent developments in this field, including the identification and characterization of genes and proteins involved in secretion, regulation of LtxA, biosynthesis, newly described activities of LtxA, and how LtxA may be used as a therapy for the treatment of diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, New Jersey Dental School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, 185 S. Orange Avenue, Medical Science Building C-636, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. kachlasc@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kachlany
mesh_terms: D000189:Actinobacillus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D016976:Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010520:Aggressive Periodontitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C018579:leukotoxin