Bacterial Survival Amidst an Immune Onslaught: The Contribution of the Staphylococcus aureus Leukotoxins

The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a human pathogen is influenced by its ability to elaborate factors that prevent infection resolution by the host immune system.Such immune-altering factors include complement inhibitory molecules, antibody binding proteins, super-antigens, as well as potent cytolytic peptides and pore-forming toxins.Here, we discuss one class of immune cell-targeting toxins, the bi-component leukotoxins.These toxins are believed to form octameric oligomers of alternating subunits on the surface of host cells and insert bbarrel pores into cell membranes leading to osmotic imbalance and cell lysis [1].We will discuss the reemerging interest in leukotoxins as potent virulence factors with defined cellular targets, the implications of their lethal and sublethal cellular effects, as well as challenges that have restricted understanding of their functional activity in vivo, while emphasizing areas of interest for future exploration.In addition, we highlight studies supporting the development of antileukotoxin antibodies and immunization strategies as potential modalities to counter S. aureus infection.