Cytotoxins: Mechanisms of Cytotoxicity and Impact on Inflammatory Responses.

is one of the most virulent opportunistic Gram-negative bacterial pathogens in humans. It causes many acute and chronic infections with morbidity and mortality rates as high as 40%. owes its pathogenic versatility to a large arsenal of cell-associated and secreted virulence factors which enable this pathogen to colonize various niches within hosts and protect it from host innate immune defenses. Induction of cytotoxicity in target host cells is a major virulence strategy for during the course of infection. has invested heavily in this strategy, as manifested by a plethora of cytotoxins that can induce various forms of cell death in target host cells. In this review, we provide an in-depth review of cytotoxins based on their mechanisms of cytotoxicity and the possible consequences of their cytotoxicity on host immune responses.