Staphylococcus aureus beta toxin explained

Staphylococcus aureus beta toxin is a toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus.^[1] It is a form of sphingomyelinase^[2] called sphingomyelinase C. This enzyme is toxic to a variety of cells, including erythrocytes, fibroblasts, leukocytes, and macrophages. Susceptible cells are subject to lysis of exposed sphingomyelin on their membrane surfaces.^[3]

The beta toxin exhibits maximum activity at 10 °C, at 37 °C (normal body temperature) seems to be inactive.

Notes and References

1. Cifrian E, Guidry AJ, Bramley AJ, Norcross NL, Bastida-Corcuera FD, Marquardt WW . Effect of staphylococcal beta toxin on the cytotoxicity, proliferation and adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to bovine mammary epithelial cells . Veterinary Microbiology . 48 . 3–4 . 187–98 . February 1996 . 9054116 . 10.1016/0378-1135(95)00159-X. free .
2. Gaskin DK, Bohach GA, Schlievert PM, Hovde CJ . Purification of Staphylococcus aureus beta-toxin: comparison of three isoelectric focusing methods . Protein Expression and Purification . 9 . 1 . 76–82 . February 1997 . 9116505 . 10.1006/prep.1996.0664 .
3. Book: Patrick R. Murray . Ken S. Rosenthal . Michael A. Pfaller . Medical Microbiology . 6th . Mosby . Philadelphia . 2009 . 1990 . 213 . 978-0-323-05470-6 .