Lysosomal disruption by bacterial toxins

Abstract

Bernheimer, Alan W. (New York University School of Medicine, New York), and Lois L. Schwartz. Lysosomal disruption by bacterial toxins. J. Bacteriol. 87:1100-1104. 1964.-Seventeen bacterial toxins were examined for capacity (i) to disrupt rabbit leukocyte lysosomes as indicated by decrease in turbidity of lysosomal suspensions, and (ii) to alter rabbit liver lysosomes as measured by release of beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase. Staphylococcal alpha-toxin, Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin, and streptolysins O and S affected lysosomes in both systems. Staphylococcal beta-toxin, leucocidin and enterotoxin, Shiga neurotoxin, Serratia endotoxin, diphtheria toxin, tetanus neurotoxin, C. botulinum type A toxin, and C. perfringens epsilon-toxin were not active in either system. Staphylococcal delta-toxin, C. histolyticum collagenase, crude C. perfringens beta-toxin, and crude anthrax toxin caused lysosomal damage in only one of the test systems. There is a substantial correlation between the hemolytic property of a toxin and its capacity to disrupt lysosomes, lending support to the concept that erythrocytes and lysosomes are bounded by similar membranes.