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review article

The Ins and Outs of Anthrax Toxin

Friebe, Sarah
•
van der Goot, F. Gisou  
•
Buergi, Jerome
2016
Toxins

Anthrax is a severe, although rather rare, infectious disease that is caused by the Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The infectious form is the spore and the major virulence factors of the bacterium are its poly-gamma-D-glutamic acid capsule and the tripartite anthrax toxin. The discovery of the anthrax toxin receptors in the early 2000s has allowed in-depth studies on the mechanisms of anthrax toxin cellular entry and translocation from the endocytic compartment to the cytoplasm. The toxin generally hijacks the endocytic pathway of CMG2 and TEM8, the two anthrax toxin receptors, in order to reach the endosomes. From there, the pore-forming subunit of the toxin inserts into endosomal membranes and enables translocation of the two catalytic subunits. Insertion of the pore-forming unit preferentially occurs in intraluminal vesicles rather than the limiting membrane of the endosome, leading to the translocation of the enzymatic subunits in the lumen of these vesicles. This has important consequences that will be discussed. Ultimately, the toxins reach the cytosol where they act on their respective targets. Target modification has severe consequences on cell behavior, in particular on cells of the immune system, allowing the spread of the bacterium, in severe cases leading to host death. Here we will review the literature on anthrax disease with a focus on the structure of the toxin, how it enters cells and its immunological effects.

  • Details
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Type
review article
DOI
10.3390/toxins8030069
Web of Science ID

WOS:000373599800023

Author(s)
Friebe, Sarah
van der Goot, F. Gisou  
Buergi, Jerome
Date Issued

2016

Publisher

Mdpi Ag

Published in
Toxins
Volume

8

Issue

3

Start page

69

Subjects

anthrax toxin

•

protein structure

•

cancer treatment

•

endocytosis

•

anthrax toxin receptors

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
VDG  
Available on Infoscience
July 19, 2016
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/127465
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