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Exotoxins
Secreted
Cytotoxins: cause cell damage
Pore forming toxins: causes cell lysis
Exoenzymes: alter normal cell function
Superantigens: cause release of vast amounts of cytokine and nonspecific
activation of T cells
Many others
Key point: The microbe that releases the exotoxin can be distal from the site of
the exotoxin action because the exotoxins are secreted and circulated in the body
Properties of Exotoxins
Usually proteins and usually enzymes
Have highly specific targets
Secreted: can affect tissues located away from site of bacterial colonization
Many exotoxins are AB toxins
Antibodies can be used to counteract exotoxins
Neutralizing the toxins enzymatic activity
Prevent receptor recognition and uptake of exotoxin into the cell by binding to
the toxin
AB toxins
Exotoxins are typically AB toxins though they can also be directly injected into
cells by a type III secretion system
The A (active) subunit is enzymatically active and is responsible for the toxic
activity
The B (binding) subunit mediates binding to the receptor on a target cell
The B subunit is what determines the cell and tissue specificity of an exotoxin
The AB toxin is brought into the cell by receptor mediated endocytosis
Once in the cytosol the endosome acidifies which causes the release of the A
subunit
The A subunit exits the endosome and carries out its toxic function