Toxins and Their Role in Disease Fate and Treatment: An Overview on Bacterial Toxins' Functions

Rezaei, Ehsan; Keshtvarz, Maryam; Khafaei, Mostafa; Sedighian, Hamid; Sefidi-Heris, Yousef; Kachuei, Reza; Imani Fooladi, Abbas Ali

doi:10.30491/jabr.2024.450796.1713

Toxins and Their Role in Disease Fate and Treatment: An Overview on Bacterial Toxins' Functions

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Ehsan Rezaei ¹

Maryam Keshtvarz ²

Mostafa Khafaei ³

Hamid Sedighian ⁴

Yousef Sefidi-Heris ⁵

Reza Kachuei ¹

Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi ⁴

¹ Molecular Biology Research Center, Biomedicine Technologies Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

² Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

³ Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah Medical Science University, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Applied Microbiology Research Center, Biomedicine Technologies Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁵ Division of Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

10.30491/jabr.2024.450796.1713

Abstract

Some bacteria can produce toxins that give them an environmental advantage by modifying the life cycle of nearby competing cells. Generally, bacteria that produce toxins are more capable of causing disease compared to those that do not. Most bacterial toxins directly target key enzymes or molecules within cellular pathways of affected cells. Closer examination reveals that bacterial toxins are active molecules capable of crossing biological barriers or altering essential factors in living cells. This review discusses new applications of bacterial toxins in biotechnology and medicine. Recently, scientists have used toxins like botulinum toxin for cancer therapy and treating various disorders in humans and animals, including muscle problems and Blepharospasm. In this overview, we highlight the pathogenicity of bacterial toxins and their potential use in therapy and prevention. Although we focus on the most important toxins, many others are either harmful or beneficial for different purposes.

Keywords

Bacterial Toxins

Cancer Treatment

Vaccination

Pathogenesis