- I Kato: Department of the Second Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Among non-thiol-activated cytolytic toxins, staphylococcal alpha-toxin, staphylococcal leucocidin, and pseudomonal leucocidin are characterized by their interaction (with susceptible cell membranes) as a biomembrane response modifier. The transmembrane signalling by the receptor-toxin complex follows the activities of membrane-associated enzymes, which lead to changes in membrane ion-permeability.