Perfringolysin O: The Underrated Clostridium perfringens Toxin?

The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens expresses multiple toxins that promote disease development in both humans and animals. One such toxin is perfringolysin O (PFO, classically referred to as θ toxin), a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). PFO is secreted as a water-solubl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxins 2015-05, Vol.7 (5), p.1702-1721
Main Authors: Verherstraeten, Stefanie, Goossens, Evy, Valgaeren, Bonnie, Pardon, Bart, Timbermont, Leen, Haesebrouck, Freddy, Ducatelle, Richard, Deprez, Piet, Wade, Kristin R, Tweten, Rodney, Van Immerseel, Filip
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacterial Toxins - chemistry
Bacterial Toxins - genetics
Bacterial Toxins - metabolism
Bacterial Toxins - toxicity
calves
Cell Membrane - metabolism
Cholesterol
cholesterol-dependent cytolysin
Clostridium perfringens
Clostridium perfringens - genetics
Clostridium perfringens - metabolism
enterotoxaemia
gas gangrene
Harbors
Hemolysin Proteins - chemistry
Hemolysin Proteins - genetics
Hemolysin Proteins - metabolism
Hemolysin Proteins - toxicity
Humans
myonecrosis
necrohemorrhagic enteritis
Review
Toxins
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Summary:The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens expresses multiple toxins that promote disease development in both humans and animals. One such toxin is perfringolysin O (PFO, classically referred to as θ toxin), a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). PFO is secreted as a water-soluble monomer that recognizes and binds membranes via cholesterol. Membrane-bound monomers undergo structural changes that culminate in the formation of an oligomerized prepore complex on the membrane surface. The prepore then undergoes conversion into the bilayer-spanning pore measuring approximately 250-300 Å in diameter. PFO is expressed in nearly all identified C. perfringens strains and harbors interesting traits that suggest a potential undefined role for PFO in disease development. Research has demonstrated a role for PFO in gas gangrene progression and bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis, but there is limited data available to determine if PFO also functions in additional disease presentations caused by C. perfringens. This review summarizes the known structural and functional characteristics of PFO, while highlighting recent insights into the potential contributions of PFO to disease pathogenesis.
ISSN:2072-6651
2072-6651
DOI:10.3390/toxins7051702