Actin Cross-Linking Effector Domain of the Vibrio vulnificus F-Type MARTX Toxin Dominates Disease Progression During Intestinal Infection

Abstract

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and septicemia in humans. The V. vulnificus multifunctional-autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin (MARTX) toxin is a pore-forming toxin that translocates multiple functionally independent effector domains into target cells and an essential virulence factor for fatal disease.

Genetic Divergence of Vibrio vulnificus Clinical Isolates with Mild to Severe Outcomes

“…( Fig. 1A ) ( 20 to 23 ). Among V. vulnificus isolates, there are multiple MARTX toxin variants each with a unique repertoire of effector domains ( 24 , 25 ) ( Fig.…”