Characterization of the damage to membranes caused by bacterial cytolysins

The damage to cell membranes caused by bacterial cytolysins has been studie d for many years. In this review, we attempt to summarize the historical co ntribution of electron microscopy to our understanding of the modes of acti on of pore-forming and channel-forming toxins. We describe the ways in whic h these toxins form holes in membranes by binding to and forming oligomers on biological membranes. We also introduce the new technique of electron sp ectroscopic imaging (ESI) with an imaging plate (TP), which has been used t o analyse the mechanisms of membrane damage by cytolysins.