Advances in the Study of Bacterial Toxins, Their Roles and Mechanisms in Pathogenesis

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria use various mechanisms to cause infections in the host. Bacterial pathogens express a wide range of molecules. Bacterial toxins have a poisonous substance created and secreted at the extracellular or intracellular level, making these bacteria pathogenic. Two common types of toxins, including exotoxins and endotoxins, have numerous modes of action. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules act on their bacterial cells during stressed conditions and help their remaining population survive. Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are genetic, modulating the eukaryotic cell cycle and targeting the immune system of the host. This review discusses toxins and recent discoveries about the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the TA system and CDTs in pathogenic bacteria.