Bacterial cytolethal distending toxin promotes the development of dysplasia in a model of microbially induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Distending Toxin Cytolethal A. actinomycetemcomitans

Cytolethal distending toxin demonstrates genotoxic activity in a yeast model.

Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) are multisubunit proteins produced by a variety of bacterial pathogens that cause enlargement, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in mammalian cells. While their function remains uncertain, recent studies suggest that they can act as intracellular DNases in mammalian cells. Here we establish a novel yeast model for understanding CDT-associated disease. Expressi...

Introns in the cytolethal distending toxin gene of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

In eukaryotic cells, genes are interrupted by intervening sequences called introns. Introns are transcribed as part of a precursor RNA that is subsequently removed by splicing, giving rise to mature mRNA. However, introns are rarely found in bacteria. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a periodontal pathogen implicated in aggressive forms of periodontal disease. This organism has been show...

Dynamics and assembly of the cytolethal distending toxin.

The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a widespread bacterial toxin that consists of an active subunit CdtB with nuclease activity and two ricin-like lectin domains, CdtA and CdtC, that are involved in the delivery of CdtB into the host cell. The three subunits form a tripartite complex that is required to achieve the fully active holotoxin. In the present study we investigate the assembly an...

Investigation of Virulence-Associated genes and Cytolethal Distending Toxin Production in Campylobacter spp. isolated from broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of virulence and Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) genes in the Campylobacter isolates from intestinal contents and gall bladders of broilers and, to evalute their cytotoxic effects on HeLa cell cultures. These genes play important roles in bacterial adherence to intestinal mucosa, flagella-mediated motility, invasive capability and the ab...