Special Issue "Bacterial Protein Toxins"

Guest Editor
Dr. Yasuhiko Horiguchi
Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamada-oka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Website: http://www.biken.osaka-u.ac.jp/act/act_horiguchi_e.php
E-Mail: horiguti@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Phone: +81 6 6879 8284
Fax: + 81 6 6879 8283
Interests: structure and domain organization of proteins; cell-to -cell or intracellular signaling; receptors for toxins; membrane-damaging toxins

Guest Editor
Dr. Yukako Fujinaga
Laboratory for Infection Cell Biology, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamada-oka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Website: http://www.biken.osaka-u.ac.jp/act/act_fujinaga_e.php
E-Mail: yukafuji@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Phone: +81 6 6879 4250
Fax: +81 6 6879 4252
Interests: bacterial protein toxins; enterotoxins; mechanism of toxicity; interaction of toxins with epithelial cell barriers

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

Submission

All papers should be submitted to toxins@mdpi.com with copy to the guest editor. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites.

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed monthly journal published by MDPI.

Article Processing Charges (APC) for publication in this open access journal are waived for well-prepared manuscripts submitted by 30 June 2010. English correction or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those paper accepted for publication, that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

• exotoxin
• virulence factor
• enzyme
• pore formation
• effector protein