Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, Manhattan, New York, USA
Research Article
Cooperative Cytotoxins: A New Look at an Old Observation of Bacterial Crosstalk
Author(s): Regina Linder* and Camille D. McIntyre
Cooperative (or synergistic) hemolysis, the ability of two bacterial species to jointly lyse erythrocytes, has long been
recognized as a helpful tool in the identification of common pathogens (i.e. the CAMP reaction between Streptococcus
agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus). However, to examine these biological partnerships separately from their use in
the diagnostic lab provides new perspectives on toxicity to host tissue during infections and in health. Many examples
of such pairings exist, and typically reflect the sequential action of a phospholipase (e.g., PLC from Staphylococcus
aureus or Clostridium perfringens), followed by a second bacterial toxin acting on the altered membrane, e.g. the CAMP
protein of group B streptococci, or the cholesterol oxidase of Rhodococcus equi. Commonly occurring cooperative
cytotoxic part.. View more»