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Perfringolysin O: The Underrated Clostridium perfringens Toxin?

Stefanie Verherstraeten1, Evy Goossens2, Bonnie Valgaeren3

  • 1Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. s.verherstraeten@gmail.com.

Toxins
|May 27, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens produces perfringolysin O (PFO), a toxin that forms pores in cell membranes. This review explores PFO

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic bacterium that produces various toxins contributing to disease in humans and animals.
  • Perfringolysin O (PFO), also known as theta toxin, is a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) secreted by C. perfringens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structural and functional characteristics of PFO.
  • To highlight recent findings on PFO's role in disease pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on PFO structure, function, and disease association.

Main Results:

  • PFO monomers bind to cholesterol on cell membranes and oligomerize into prepore complexes.
  • The prepore complex converts into a pore approximately 250-300 Å in diameter.
  • PFO is implicated in gas gangrene and bovine necrohemorrhagic enteritis, with potential roles in other C. perfringens-associated diseases.

Conclusions:

  • PFO is a key toxin produced by C. perfringens with well-defined pore-forming capabilities.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate PFO's contribution to diverse disease presentations.
Keywords:
calvescholesterol-dependent cytolysinenterotoxaemiagas gangrenemyonecrosisnecrohemorrhagic enteritis

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