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Journal of Biochemistry 2004 136(5):569-574; doi:10.1093/jb/mvh161
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© 2004 The Japanese Biochemical Society

JB MINIREVIEWS

Clostridium perfringens Alpha-Toxin: Characterization and Mode of Action

Jun Sakurai*, Masahiro Nagahama and Masataka Oda

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514

Clostridium perfringens type A strains that produce alpha-toxin cause gas gangrene, which is a life-threatening infection with fever, pain, edema, myonecrosis and gas production. Intramuscular injection of the toxin or Bacillus subtilis carrying the alpha-toxin gene causes myonecrosis and produces histopathological features of the disease. Immunization of mice with alpha-toxin or fragments of the toxin prevents gas gangrene caused by C. perfringens. The toxin possesses phospholipase C (PLC), sphingomyelinase (SMase) and biological activities causing hemolysis, lethality and dermonecrosis. These biological activities are closely related to PLC and/or SMase activities. However, there is yet some uncertainty about the biological activities induced by the PLC and SMase activities of alpha-toxin. Based on the isolation and characterization of the gene for alpha-toxin and a comparison of the toxin with enzymes of the PLC family, significant progress has been made in determining the function-structure of alpha-toxin and the mode of action of the toxin. To provide a better understanding of the role of alpha-toxin in tissue damage in gas gangrene, this article summarizes current knowledge of the characteristics and mode of action of alpha-toxin.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +81-88-622-9611, Fax: +81-88-655-3051, E-mail: sakurai{at}ph.bunri-u.ac.jp


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