Alpha-hemolysin from Escherichia coli uses endogenous amplification through P2X receptor activation to induce hemolysis.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli is the dominant facultative bacterium in the normal intestinal flora. E. coli is, however, also responsible for the majority of serious extraintestinal infections. There are distinct serotypical differences between facultative and invasive E. coli strains. Invasive strains frequently produce virulence factors such as alpha-hemolysin (HlyA), which causes hemolysis by forming pores in the erythrocyte membrane. The present study reveals that this pore formation triggers purinergic receptor activation to mediate the full hemolytic action. Non-selective ATP-receptor (P2) antagonists (PPADS, suramin) and ATP scavengers (apyrase, hexokinase) concentration dependently inhibited HlyA-induced lysis of equine, murine, and human erythrocytes. The pattern of responsiveness to more sele

SUBMITTER: Skals M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2656199 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature