Bacterial Beta-Barrel Pore Forming Toxins

The mechanisms of action of bacterial beta-barrel pore-forming toxins are becoming better understood, in particular as the structures of these toxins are visualized using three-dimensional methods. Currently, the structures of several beta-barrel pore forming toxins are known, including the anthrax toxin of Bacillus anthracis, iota toxin from Clostridium perfringens, VipDA2 toxin from Bacillus thuringensis, and the CDTb toxin from Clostridium difficile.  These structures have provided invaluable insight into the necessary structural requirements for pore formation and translocation, with similarities and differences that highlight those aspects of the structure that are critical for toxin function. In this review, we focus on the structures of these bacterial toxins, what we know and do not yet know about their specific mechanisms of pore formation, and, if needed, toxin translocation.  We also focus on the specific disease mechanisms and host targeting that may shed light on disease prevention through the design of novel therapeutics.

Dr. James G. Bann
Guest Editor

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• structure
• toxin
• beta-barrel
• membrane
• bacterial