Recent progress in Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin

Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) secretes a variety of pathogenic toxins and one of the most prominent toxins is α-hemolysin, which is considered as the main virulence factor in skin necrosis and severe infections caused by S.aureus infection. α-hemolysin is so named because of its ability to dissolve red blood cells. However, it has a wide range of effects on various cells and may cause different pathogenic responses in different host cells. This review summarizes recent studies on the structure of α-hemolysin and its interaction with different cells in order to better understand the role of α-hemolysin in the process of S.aureus infection, which may provide a reference for developing new approaches to the prophylaxis and treatment of S.aureus infection. Key words: Staphylococcus aureus; α-hemolysin; Bacterial toxin