Cryo-EM and X-ray structures of α-xenorhabdolysin in soluble and pore form of Xenorhabdus nematophila give novel insights into the mechanism of action of bi-component α-pore-forming toxins.

By changing the smell of their host, entomopathogenic nematodes attract future hosts and increase their predation success.

Beneficial symbiotic bacteria encode an exceptional number of toxin-related genes that are all expressed by the symbionts in the host, supporting their key role in host-microbe interactions.

The insect pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus has evolved astonishing nano-scale analogues of hypodermic syringes that it uses to inject toxins into host cells.