Identification of a Cytopathogenic Toxin from Sneathia amnii.

ABSTRACT: Sneathia amnii is a poorly characterized emerging pathogen that has been implicated in amnionitis and urethritis. We found that S. amnii damages fetal membranes, and we identified and purified a cytotoxic exotoxin that lyses human red blood cells and damages cells from fetal membranes. The gene appears to be cotranscribed with a second gene that encodes a protein with identity to two-partner system transporters, suggesting that it is the "A," or secreted component of a type Vb system. The toxin is 1,881 amino acids with a molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa. It binds to red blood cell membranes and forms pores with a diameter of 2.0 to 3.0 nm, resulting in osmolysis. Because it appears to be the "A" or passenger component of a two-partner system, we propose to name this novel cytotox

SUBMITTER: Gentile GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7283592 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature