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Small molecules, toxins and cell death pathways
Author(s) -
Hung Deborah T
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.213.2
Subject(s) - pathogen , bacillus anthracis , biology , host (biology) , microbial toxins , host–pathogen interaction , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , toxin , genetics , virulence , gene
Many bacterial pathogens first interact with the host through elaboration of toxins by secreting toxins that are taken up by the host and go on to disrupt essential host cellular functions. This process is the result of a remarkable co‐evolutionary process between the pathogen and the host. We will discuss chemical biological approaches to studying the interaction between a pathogen and a host and the simultaneous application of small molecules and toxins as probes that perturb host cellular processes. These perturbations can be used to reveal important cell biology including cell death pathways in response to pathogen stimulation. We will discuss the example of anthrax toxin, which is elaborated by the bacterial pathogen Bacillus anthracis.