Characterization of the damage to membranes caused by bacterial cytolysins

The damage to cell membranes caused by bacterial cytolysins has been studied for many years. In this review, we attempt to summarize the historical contribution of electron microscopy to our understanding of the modes of action of pore-forming and channel-forming toxins. We describe the ways in which these toxins form holes in membranes by binding to and forming oligomers on biological membranes. We also introduce the new technique of electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) with an imaging plate (IP), which has been used to analyse the mechanisms of membrane damage by cytolysins.