Toxin-producing bacteria: The importance of knowing your enemy
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 - 10:30
in Health & Medicine
A better understanding of how bacterial toxins cause common human diseases may lead to their improved treatment and prevention. Scientists have researched the identification, genetics and biochemistry of streptolysin S (SLS), a bacterial toxin produced by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. S. pyogenes causes a wide variety of infections of the upper respiratory tract and the skin, with complications leading to invasive diseases such as the "flesh-eating" skin disease, necrotising fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.