Bacterial Protein Toxins
A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Bacterial Toxins".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2009) | Viewed by 102034
Special Issue Editors
Interests: structure and domain organization of proteins; cell-to -cell or intracellular signaling; receptors for toxins; membrane-damaging toxins
Interests: Clostridium botulinum; botulinum toxin; clostridial neurotoxins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Bacterial protein toxins play an important role in infectious diseases. Several are highly potent human poisons, such as botulinum, tetanus, Shiga, and diphtheria toxins. These toxins are multi-functional proteins that are self-programmed to reach their target organs and/or enter cells. Another set of toxins is called effector, which is directly delivered into the cell by type III/IV mechanisms. To exert their potency, many of them interact specifically with key components of the cell. Thus, these toxins are not only responsible for disease, but also provide a powerful set of tools with which to elucidate complicated machinery of the cell system. In addition, some toxins can be used medicinally to treat human diseases, such as Botox (botulinum toxin) in recent years. This issue of Toxins will deal with major achievements and recent exciting discoveries in protein toxins and effectors produced by bacteria, including three-dimensional structures, structure-activity relationships, toxin receptors, toxin substrates, toxin trafficking, and clinical applications.
Yukako Fujinaga, Ph. D.
Yasuhiko Horiguchi, Ph. D.
Guest Editors
Keywords
- exotoxin
- virulence factor
- enzyme
- pore formation
- effector protein