Panton-Valentine-Leukocidine

Last updated on: 12.01.2023

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin is a pore-forming staphylococcal toxin that targets the host plasma membrane and is responsible for abscesses and necrotizing pneumonia. PVL is one of the important virulence factors of S. aureus and leads to host cell necrosis and also apoptosis of infected cells. Most importantly, it is thought to be associated with severe necrotizing pneumonia in humans. PVL is composed of two separate components, also called S-/ and F-components. These toxin components are encoded by the genes lukS-PV and lukF-PV .

Clinical pictureThis section has been translated automatically.

The most common clinical manifestations of infection with PVL-forming S. aureus are recurrent abscesses and cutaneous infections in children and young adults (1), which can occur on the entire integument. These most commonly occur on healthy skin; however, petty trauma is also possible as a site of entry (e.g., shaving trauma, mosquito bites).

Infections with PVL-forming S. aureus lead more frequently to recurrences and larger abscesses than PVL-negative infections.In children, further manifestations are possible, e.g. bone, joint and muscle infections up to sepsis (2).

Very rarely, PVL-S.aureus infection can lead to severe necrotizing pneumonia (3).

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

(1) Saeed K, Gould I, Esposito S, Ahmad-Saeed N, Ahmed SS, Alp E, Bal AM, Bassetti M, Bonnet E, Chan M, Coombs G, Dancer SJ, David MZ, De Simone G, Dryden M, Guardabassi L, Hanitsch LG, Hijazi K, Krüger R, Lee A, Leistner R, Pagliano P, Righi E, Schneider-Burrus S, Skov RL, Tattevin P, Van Wamel W, Vos MC, Voss A; International Society of Chemotherapy. Panton-Valentine leucocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus: a position statement from the International Society of Chemotherapy. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Jan;51(1):16-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2017.11.002. Epub 2017 Nov 22. Erratum in: Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2018 Mar 20;: PMID: 29174420.
(2) Leistner R, Hanitsch LG, Krüger R, Lindner AK, Stegemann MS, Nurjadi D: Skin infections due to Panton-Valentine leucocidin-producing S.aureus. Dtsch Arzteblatt Int 2022, 119: 775-84. DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.m.2022.0308
(3) Gillet Y, Vanhems P, Lina G, Bes M, Vandenesch F, Floret D, Etienne J. Factors predicting mortality in necrotizing community-acquired pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus containing Panton-Valentine leucocidin.
Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Aug 1;45(3):315-21. doi: 10.1086/519263. epub 2007 Jun 15. PMID: 17599308.

Last updated on: 12.01.2023