Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes
12:27

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

THE EFFECT OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS TOXIN ON THE KIDNEY

W C Vonglahn1, J T Weld

  • 1Department of Pathology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York.

The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus produces a toxin that causes kidney lesions in animals. This toxin specifically damages the kidney's blood vessels, highlighting a potential mechanism for Staphylococcus aureus-related kidney injury.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Nephrology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen.
  • Hemolytic strains of Staphylococcus aureus produce toxins.
  • The specific effects of these toxins on host organs are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of Staphylococcus aureus toxin on kidney tissue.
  • To determine the mechanism of kidney injury induced by the toxin.

Main Methods:

  • Hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in vitro to isolate the toxin.
  • The purified toxin was intravenously injected into rabbits and cats.
  • Kidney tissues were examined for pathological changes.

Main Results:

  • Intravenous injection of the toxin caused observable lesions in the kidneys of experimental animals.
  • Histopathological examination revealed that the toxin primarily targets and injures the renal blood vessels.
  • The severity of kidney lesions correlated with toxin administration.

Conclusions:

  • The toxin elaborated by hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus is nephrotoxic.
  • Renal vascular injury is the primary mechanism by which this toxin causes kidney damage.
  • These findings contribute to understanding Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis and associated renal complications.

More Related Videos

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions06:32

Development of Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Primary Cultures in Monolayers and Three-Dimensional Conditions

Published on: June 13, 2025

Nephrotoxin Microinjection in Zebrafish to Model Acute Kidney Injury07:58

Nephrotoxin Microinjection in Zebrafish to Model Acute Kidney Injury

Published on: July 17, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Toxins01:12

Bacterial Toxins

Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention01:30

Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention

Accurate diagnosis and effective prevention are critical in managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which is linked to high mortality rates ranging from 10% to 80%. Timely recognition of at-risk patients and careful monitoring can significantly reduce the likelihood of kidney damage.Diagnostic Assessments:The diagnostic process starts with a comprehensive medical history to identify prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal causes.Prerenal causes, such as dehydration, hypotension, or blood loss, should...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology01:29

Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology

Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes are categorized into three primary categories based on the location of the injury: prerenal, intrarenal (or intrinsic), and postrenal causes. This classification guides clinical management and illustrates how different pathways can impair kidney function.Etiology and Pathophysiology of Acute Kidney Injury1. Prerenal causesEtiology: Prerenal Acute Kidney Injury, the most common type, occurs when reduced blood flow to the kidneys decreases filtration capacity...
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction01:22

Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction

Introduction:Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) describes a swift decrease in kidney function occurring over hours to days, characterized by the kidneys' failure to remove waste products from the bloodstream. This leads to dangerous complications like metabolic acidosis, fluid overload, and electrolyte imbalances, such as hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. AKI is common in both hospital and outpatient settings, often triggered by dehydration, sepsis, or exposure to nephrotoxic...