The pathogen Staphylococcus aureus releases several pore-forming toxins, termed leukocidins, that kill immune cells. Here, Zheng et al. show that the retention of a leukocidin on bacterial cells and its release are modulated by lipoteichoic acid and a membrane lipid, which also control the sorting of other surface-associated proteins.
- Xuhui Zheng
- Gerben Marsman
- Victor J. Torres
