Killer toxins secreted by some yeast strains are the proteins that kill sensitive cells of the same or related yeast genera. In recent years, many new yeast species have been found to be able to produce killer toxins against the pathogenic yeasts, especially Candida albicans. Some of the killer toxins have been purified and characterized, and the genes encoding the killer toxins have been cloned and characterized. Many new targets including different components of cell wall, plasma membrane, tRNA, DNA and others in the sensitive cells for the killer toxin action have been identified so that the new molecular mechanisms of action have been elucidated. However, it is still unknown how some of the newly discovered killer toxins kill the sensitive cells. Studies on the killer phenomenon in yeasts have provided valuable insights into a number of fundamental aspects of eukaryotic cell biology and interactions of different eukaryotic cells. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of their action will be helpful to develop the strategies to fight more and more harmful yeasts.

一些酵母菌株分泌的杀手毒素是杀死相同或相关酵母属敏感细胞的蛋白质。近年来，已经发现许多新的酵母种类能够产生针对病原酵母的杀伤毒素，尤其是白色念珠菌。某些杀手毒素已被纯化和鉴定，编码杀手毒素的基因已被克隆和鉴定。已经确定了许多新靶标，包括细胞壁，质膜，tRNA，DNA等不同成分在敏感细胞中的杀伤性毒素作用，从而阐明了新的分子作用机理。然而，仍然未知的是一些新发现的杀手毒素如何杀死敏感细胞。酵母中杀手现象的研究为真核细胞生物学的许多基本方面以及不同真核细胞的相互作用提供了宝贵的见解。阐明其作用的分子机制将有助于发展与越来越多的有害酵母菌作斗争的策略。