Review
Microbiology
Shuowei Cai, Raj Kumar, Bal Ram Singh
Summary: Gram-positive bacteria are ancient organisms that produce toxins to manipulate the host and lead to diseases. Clostridial neurotoxins, like other bacterial toxins, use flexible structures to trigger their activity. Understanding these structures is vital for designing antidotes against bacterial toxins.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Katharina Ernst, Marc Landenberger, Julian Nieland, Katharina Norgaard, Manfred Frick, Giorgio Fois, Roland Benz, Holger Barth
Summary: The study investigated the cytotoxic effect of CDTb on cells, revealing that CDTb impairs cell viability and leads to redistribution of F-actin without affecting tubulin structures in CaCo-2 cells. Pharmacological pore blockers were found to effectively inhibit the cytotoxicity induced by pore formation of CDTb in the cytoplasmic membrane.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kathleen E. Orrell, Roman A. Melnyk
Summary: Large clostridial toxins (LCTs) are a family of disease-causing proteins characterized by their large size and conserved multidomain architectures; the discovery of LCT-like T domains in diverse bacteria has provided new insights into LCT translocation.
TRENDS IN BIOCHEMICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jone Amuategi, Rocio Alonso, Helena Ostolaza
Summary: Adenylate Cyclase Toxin (ACT) is an important virulence factor secreted by Bordetella pertussis, and its activities depend on its interaction with membrane cholesterol and the stabilization of transmembrane helices. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the dependence of ACT activities on cholesterol and the modulation of toxicity in pore-forming toxins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marc Landenberger, Julian Nieland, Maurice Roeder, Katharina Norgaard, Panagiotis Papatheodorou, Katharina Ernst, Holger Barth
Summary: Clostridioides difficile produces multiple toxins, including TcdA, TcdB, and CDT, which are the main virulence factors causing associated diarrhea and colitis. CDTb alone exhibits cytotoxic effects on cells, leading to cell rounding and impairment of cell function by binding to the cell receptor LSR.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nathalia Nocchi, Alejandro Gonzalez-Orive, Alberto Hernandez-Creus, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales, Adriana Rodriguez, Rodrigo Morchon, Ana R. Diaz-Marrero, Jose J. Fernandez
Summary: Millepora alcicornis, also known as fire coral, is a tropical hydrozoa species that produces thermolabile proteins, including phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and alciporin, a pore-forming protein (PFP). The venom contained in the nematocysts of this species displays hemolytic activity primarily through the action of alciporin, which targets sphingomyelin. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to study the evolution of hemolytic damage at the nanoscale.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Yajuan Li, Yuelong Li, Hylemariam Mihiretie Mengist, Cuixiao Shi, Caiying Zhang, Bo Wang, Tingting Li, Ying Huang, Yuanhong Xu, Tengchuan Jin
Summary: Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are a major virulence factor of many pathogenic bacteria, with well-characterized structural basis and interactions with host cell membranes. Understanding the mechanisms of PFTs can contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies and combat bacterial antibiotic resistance.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shuaijun Zou, Qian He, Qianqian Wang, Bo Wang, Guoyan Liu, Fuhai Zhang, Xi Cheng, Beilei Wang, Liming Zhang
Summary: A novel temperature-sensitive injectable detoxification system was successfully constructed by loading nanosponges (NSs) into a 30% Pluronic F127 hydrogel, showing good fluidity and viscosity properties, sustained release behavior, and excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the NS-pGel system exhibited neutralization effects similar to NSs, making it suitable for the clinical treatment of PFT-induced local lesions and infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Anna M. L. Klompen, Ehsan Kayal, Allen G. Collins, Paulyn Cartwright
Summary: JFTs are highly toxic cnidarian-specific toxins, consisting of two distinct clades—JFT-1 and JFT-2. Research shows that certain sequences of cubozoan JFT-1 may be influenced by gene-wide positive selection, suggesting a potential mechanism for their high toxicity.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Haijie Hu, Min Liu, Shuang Sun
Summary: Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are virulence factors secreted by pathogenic bacterial strains, forming pores in the cell membrane to exert toxic effects. Recent studies have elucidated the structure of PFTs and the detailed molecular mechanisms of their pathogenicity.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Carlos Alvarez, Carmen Soto, Sheila Cabezas, Javier Alvarado-Mesen, Rady Laborde, Fabiola Pazos, Uris Ros, Ana Maria Hernandez, Maria Eliana Lanio
Summary: Actinoporins are soluble pore-forming proteins secreted by sea anemones that can cause cell death. While the binding and pore-formation processes have been extensively studied, understanding of the intracellular responses to APs is still limited. Research has focused on the intracellular pathways triggered by APs attack, with potential applications including the development of immunotoxins and cancer vaccine platforms.
Article
Microbiology
Mahendra Singh, N. Rupesh, Shashi Bhushan Pandit, Kausik Chattopadhyay
Summary: In this study, it was found that curcumin can neutralize the membrane-damaging activity of VCC, making it a potential inhibitor of this powerful bacterial toxin. Curcumin binds to VCC and reduces its ability to attack cell membranes, while the soluble extract of curcumin generated by heat treatment weakens the pore-forming activity of VCC.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Katharina Ernst, Judith Sailer, Maria Braune, Holger Barth
Summary: This study investigated the composition and mechanism of action of binary enterotoxins, as well as the protection of mammalian cells by inhibiting protein folding helper enzymes. The results suggest that simultaneous inhibition of these enzymes can effectively protect cells from intoxication, with a combination of inhibitors showing enhanced effects compared to individual inhibitors.
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Thomas J. R. Ormsby, Sian E. Owens, Liam Clement, Tom J. Mills, James G. Cronin, John J. Bromfield, Iain Martin Sheldon
Summary: This study found that oxysterols stimulate the intrinsic protection of epithelial cells against pore-forming toxins, thereby fighting against bacterial infection and toxin damage.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anish Kumar Mondal, Kusum Lata, Mahendra Singh, Shamaita Chatterjee, Aakanksha Chauhan, Sindhoora Puravankara, Kausik Chattopadhyay
Summary: This article discusses the mechanism of pore formation by pore-forming toxins (PFTs), with a particular focus on the mechanistic details contributed by cryo-EM-based structural studies.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Emmanuel Lemichez, Michel Robert Popoff, Karla J. F. Satchell
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Cell Biology
Carolina Varela-Chavez, Arnaud Blondel, Michel R. Popoff
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Christine Rasetti-Escargueil, Emmanuel Lemichez, Michel R. Popoff
Review
Food Science & Technology
Christine Rasetti-Escargueil, Michel R. Popoff
Summary: Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) have increasingly diverse therapeutic applications, ranging from treating muscle and neurological disorders such as muscle hyperactivity, essential tremor, and movement disorders. Advances in molecular biology have led to the development of modified BoNTs with potential for treating a variety of disorders.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Holger Bruggemann, Diana Chapeton-Montes, Lucile Plourde, Michel R. Popoff
Summary: Research revealed that Clostridium tetani may regulate the synthesis of tetanus toxin through a putative non-coding small RNA, potentially impacting bacterial growth and preventing premature bacterial lysis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastien Brier, Christine Rasetti-Escargueil, Anne Wijkhuisen, Stephanie Simon, Maud Marechal, Emmanuel Lemichez, Michel R. Popoff
Summary: The study identified the unique neutralization mechanism of TA12, demonstrating that its conformational epitope recognizes the specific region at the interface of the BoNT/A1 receptor-binding domain and overlaps with the binding site for the neuronal cell surface receptors SV2C and GT1b. TA12 effectively blocks the entry of BoNT/A1 into neurons by interfering with the binding of SV2C and, to a lesser extent, GT1b, highlighting the potential of using single mAbs for the treatment of botulism type A.
Editorial Material
Food Science & Technology
Daniel Ladant, Pascale Marchot, Sylvie Diochot, Gilles Prevost, Michel R. Popoff, Evelyne Benoit
Summary: This report presents the 27th annual meeting of the French Society of Toxinology, which focused on the dual nature of toxins and showcased the latest research findings on plant, fungal, algal, animal, and bacterial toxins.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Michel R. Popoff, Holger Bruggemann
Summary: Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani are bacteria that produce potent neurotoxins and cause paralysis. The synthesis of neurotoxins is regulated by complex networks involving environmental factors, nutrition, and regulatory pathways.
Review
Microbiology
Christine Rasetti-Escargueil, Michel R. Popoff
Summary: Botulinum neurotoxins are protein complexes produced by bacteria of the genus Clostridium. There is a need for fast, accurate, and reliable detection methods to monitor botulism outbreaks and for therapeutic and research purposes. Current methods include immunological and mass spectrometry approaches, but further validation is required. Cell-based assays have the potential to replace animal testing for potency determination and inhibitor identification, but their development still requires in vivo studies.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Grazia Cottone, Letizia Chiodo, Luca Maragliano, Michel-Robert Popoff, Christine Rasetti-Escargueil, Emmanuel Lemichez, Therese E. Malliavin
Summary: Combined homology modeling and atomistic simulations are used to investigate the internal dynamics of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). The study reveals that the conformational variations of BoNTs are influenced by pH and protein structure, and the mobility of the belt alpha-helix may interact with the core translocation domain during the translocation process, providing important insights into the molecular mechanism of BoNTs.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Michel R. R. Popoff, Sandra Legout
Summary: Louis Pasteur, a pioneer in microbiology, discovered anaerobic life and identified the first pathogenic anaerobic bacterium. He focused on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases using attenuated pathogens. His collaborators investigated the mechanisms of pathogenicity and found that bacterial toxins induce symptoms and lesions in experimental animals.
Article
Cell Biology
Daria Chirita, Pauline Bronnec, Flora Magnotti, Sarah Dalmon, Amandine Martin, Michel Popoff, Mathieu Gerfaud-Valentin, Pascal Seve, Alexandre Belot, Anne Contis, Agnes Duquesne, Gaetane Nocturne, Irene Lemelle, Sophie Georgin-Lavialle, Guilaine Boursier, Isabelle Touitou, Yvan Jamilloux, Thomas Henry
Summary: This study reveals the role of the B30.2 domain and the central helical scaffold (CHS) domain in regulating pyrin inflammasome activation in Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF). Mutations in these domains can have different functional impacts on the pyrin inflammasome, contributing to the diversity of pyrin-associated autoinflammatory diseases.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Food Science & Technology
Daniel Ladant, Gilles Prevost, Michel R. Popoff, Evelyne Benoit
Review
Food Science & Technology
Michel R. R. Popoff, Grazyna Faure, Sandra Legout, Daniel Ladant
Summary: Humans have encountered poisonous animals since ancient times. Certain animals and plants produce toxic substances that can be deadly or have medicinal effects. The term venom now refers specifically to poisons delivered by biting. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur in Paris pioneered the development of antivenom therapy, paving the way for research on venom constituents and their biological activities. The study of snake venoms conducted by scientists at the Institut Pasteur has greatly contributed to the field.
Meeting Abstract
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
S. Worbs, B. Kampa, M. Skiba, K. Busschots, R. Zeleny, J. Masquelier, A. Puustinen, P. Vanninen, C. Rasetti-Escargueil, M. Popoff, E. Lemichez, A. S. Mierzala, H. Volland, F. Becher, S. Simon, B. Boran, Y. Nia, J. A. Hennekinne, J. Weisemann, A. Rummel, D. Jansson, M. A. Avondet, W. Luginbuhl, R. Josuran, C. Zaborosch, L. Burns, K. Campbell, B. Dorner
NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERGS ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mohammadhossein Movassaghghazani, Nazanin Shabansalmani
Summary: The study revealed high levels of AFM1 in both breast milk and powdered milk samples in Tehran, with some samples exceeding the established limits. Therefore, monitoring and regulating toxin levels in these products is crucial for maternal and infant health.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Defeng Wen, Wantong Han, Quan Chen, Guanhui Qi, Mengling Gao, Pu Guo, Yu Liu, Zhongyuan Wu, Shulin Fu, Qirong Lu, Yinsheng Qiu
Summary: Luteolin can inhibit FB1-induced intestinal inflammatory injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and ERK signaling pathways, according to network pharmacology and in vitro experiments.
