[Thiol-dependent cytolytic bacterial toxins: streptolysin O and prominent toxins]

Streptolysin O is the prototype of fifteen bacterial cytolytic protein toxins elaborated by gram-positive bacteria of species Streptococcus, Clostridium, Bacillus and Listeria. These toxins share a number of common properties: they are antigenically related as shown by cross-neutralization and immunoprecipitation; their cytolytic and other reducing agents; these toxins are inactivated by cholesterol and certain related sterols. This group of oxygen-labile cytolytic toxins has been named sulfyhdryl-activated toxins or thiol-activated cytolysins. The mechanism of action of these toxins is very likely identical or at least closely similar.