Staphylococcal enzymes and virulence

Pawetł Ciborowski, Janusz Jeljaszewicz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

This chapter discusses some of staphylococcal products exerting especially pronounced biological effects and possibly participating in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections. Alpha toxin possessed hemolytic, cytotoxic, dermonecrotic, and lethal activities, which was confirmed in the results of Bernheimer and Schwartz. Alpha-hemolysin binds to membranes and this is its primary site of action. The toxic properties of beta-hemolysin are quite controversial since the observed toxicity of many preparations of this substance was due, to some extent, to contamination with other staphylococcal exotoxins. Gamma-hemolysin is produced in the late stage of the logarithmic growth phase. The inhibitory action of scrum and its components suggests that delta-hemolysin may be inactive in vivo. Adenyl cyclase increases its activity under the influence of leukocidin, but is not leukocidin-susceptible in cells resistant to the action of this toxin. It also seems that change in the cAMP content are not essential to the basic mechanisms of leukocidin action.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationBacterial Enzymes and Virulence
PublisherCRC Press
Pages145-183
Number of pages39
ISBN (Electronic)9781351078498
ISBN (Print)9781351070041
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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