[Protective features of pore-forming proteins of pathogenic bacteria]

Abstract

The paper analyzes the results of investigations of the protective properties of pore-forming proteins (porins) from pathogenic bacteria. The high immunogenicity of porins is shown to allow them to use as components of chemical vaccines to combat infectious disease pathogens against which effective agents for specific prophylaxis could not be designed. It is suggested that bacterial pore-forming proteins play the same role in the infectious process as virus-confluent proteins do and can make a ligand-receptor interaction with the eukaryotic cellular membranous surface. These two properties may be also used to design new agents for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.