What is diphtheria toxin made of?
Diphtheria toxin is a single polypeptide chain of 535 amino acids consisting of two subunits linked by disulfide bridges, known as an A-B toxin. Binding to the cell surface of the B subunit (the less stable of the two subunits) allows the A subunit (the more stable part of the protein) to penetrate the host cell.
What is the characteristic toxin produced by Corynebacterium Diphtheriae?
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is an aerobic gram-positive bacterium which secretes a toxin that inactivates human elongation factor eEF-2, thus inhibiting translation during protein synthesis by human cells. The site of infection, generally the throat, becomes sore and swollen.
Is diphtheria toxin an enzyme?
Diphtheria toxin (an oncolytic enzyme still in the experimental stage), catalyzes transfer of the adenosine diphosphate ribose (ADP-ribose) moiety of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to elongation factor 2. This enzyme halts protein synthesis.
Where is diphtheria toxin found?
Diphtheria toxin is secreted from Corynebacterium diphtheriae as a single polypeptide chain containing two major domains: DT-A, which carries the active site for ADP ribosylation of EF-2, and DT-B, which promotes binding of toxin to cells and the entry of the A chain into the cytosolic compartment.
What is the diphtheria toxin receptor?
Diphtheria toxin receptor binds diphtheria toxin at the EGF-like domain, and this domain is sufficient to bind diphtheria toxin, while binding of heparin-like molecules to HBD is necessary for full binding activity of diphtheria toxin receptor to diphtheria toxin when assayed in intact cells (Shishido et al., 1995).
How does diphtheria antitoxin work?
Diphtheria antitoxin is made from the blood plasma of horses that have been immunized against diphtheria toxin. It works by neutralizing the toxins produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
What was the serum for diphtheria?
Diphtheria antitoxin is a blood product containing equine (horse) protein. The antitoxin binds to the circulating toxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae and stops the progression of disease and further damage.
Who found cure for diphtheria?
| Emil von Behring | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | German |
| Known for | Diphtheria antitoxin/serum |
| Awards | Cameron Prize for Therapeutics of the University of Edinburgh (1894) Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1901) |
| Scientific career | |
When was the diphtheria epidemic?
1921-1925: Diphtheria epidemic.
What was black diphtheria?
The throat infection causes a gray to black, tough, fiber-like covering, which can block your airways. In some cases, diphtheria infects your skin first and causes skin lesions. Once you are infected, the bacteria make dangerous substances called toxins.