Cytolysin A (ClyA) is an α-pore-forming toxin secreted
by pathogenic E. coli. ClyA monomer assembles into an
oligomeric pre-pore structure independently of lipid membrane
and detergent. ClyA cytotoxic protein was found in
the OMVs of E. coli showed eightfold higher activity than
the purified ClyA (Wai et al. 2003). Through an unknown
mechanism, OMVs release ClyA, which then form a transmembrane
pore in the host cell. OMVs may represent a
non-classical pathway to attack eukaryotic host cells