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Abstract

Determining the activity of purified toxins has generally provided the basis for establishing their role in the host- pathogen relationship. The bacterial genus Vibrio pro duces a number of exotoxins in addition to cholera toxin, including haemolysin A (HIyA; Vibrio cholerae) and thermostable direct haemolysin (TDH; Vibrio parahae molyticus), both of which possess membrane-targeting cytolytic activity. The action of HlyA has been analyzed using protocols previously applied to TDH: lysis and flux experiments on human erythrocytes showed that HlyA similarly causes lysis after cell swelling (by colloid osmosis) due to an elevation of cation permeability. However, kinetic measurements of flux, haemolysis and cation selectivity showed that HlyA and TDH form pores with distinct and characteristic features.

Keywords

HlyA Vibrio cholerae El Tor bacterial toxin haemolysis red blood cell

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Membrane attack induced by HlyA,a pore-forming toxin of Vibrio cholerae

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