How does the structure of cytolysins influence their activity?
E-Mail IMAGE: First author and van der Donk lab member Imran Rahman (left) with Richard E. Heckert Professor of Chemistry Wilfred van der Donk. view more Credit: Jillian Nickel Although Enterococcus faecalis is usually an innocuous member of the bacterial community in the human gut, it can also cause several infections, including liver disorders. The bacteria produce cytolysins, which are molecules that destroy cells. In a new study, researchers have uncovered how they do so. "Your chances of dying increase by 5-fold when you get infected by E. faecalis that can make cytolysin com...
Source: eurekalert.org