Characterization of anthrolysin O, the Bacillus anthracis cholesterol-dependent cytolysin.

ABSTRACT: We characterized the expression of a putative toxin of Bacillus anthracis, a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family, which includes listeriolysin O, perfringolysin O, and streptolysin O. We named this cytotoxin anthrolysin O (ALO). Although B. anthracis expresses minimal hemolytic activity in clinical settings, we show that Sterne strain 7702 expresses hemolytic activity when grown in brain heart infusion broth or in other rich bacteriologic media, but it secretes barely detectable amounts of hemolysin when grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth. Glucose supplementation of LB broth increases the amount of secreted hemolytic activity. Expression of hemolytic activity is maximal during mid- to late-log phase and decreases in the stationary phase. These observations are support

SUBMITTER: Shannon JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC155736 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature