Staphylococcus aureus α-Toxin’s Close Contacts Ensure the Kill

The membrane pore-forming α-toxin is an important virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus . Target cells can remove pores from their surface, but recent work shows that α-toxin may undermine this self-defense by clinging to epithelial cell junctions. The findings could lead to the development of novel remedies against S. aureus infections.