Panton-Valentine leukocidin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a cytotoxin—one of the β-pore forming toxins.
It causes leukocyte destruction, pneumonia and necrotizing fasciitis, an aggressive condition that often kills patients within 72 hours.[1] PVL is produced from the genetic material of a bacteriophage which infects Staphylococcus aureus, making it more virulent.[2] It has played a role in a number of outbreaks of fatal bacterial infections. [3] PVL may increase the expression of staphylococcal protein A, a key pro-inflammatory factor for pneumonia.[4]
Community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is particularly difficult to treat when it carries PVL. Genetic analysis shows that PVL CA-MRSA has emerged several times, on different continents, rather than being the worldwide spread of a single clone.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "Staph Toxin Can Trigger Deadly Pneumonia", Forbes, 2007-10-18. Retrieved on October 18, 2007.
- ^ Lina G, Piémont Y, Godail-Gamot F, Bes M, Peter M, Gauduchon V, Vandenesch F, Etienne J (1999). "Involvement of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing Staphylococcus aureus in primary skin infections and pneumonia.". Clin Infect Dis 29 (5): 1128-32. PMID 10524952. Retrieved on September 1, 2006
- ^ Nigel Hawkes. Baby's death linked to hospital bug. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.
- ^ "Staphylococcus aureus Toxin Can Cause Necrotizing Pneumonia", Medscape, 2007-01-18. Retrieved on January 18, 2007.
- ^ Vandenesch F, Naimi T, Enright M, Lina G, Nimmo G, Heffernan H, Liassine N, Bes M, Greenland T, Reverdy M, Etienne J (August 2003). "Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes: worldwide emergence". Emerg Infect Dis 9 (8): 978-84. PMID 12967497. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
