many psms have cytolytic activity and play a major role in the nonspecific lysing of host cells, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils (pmns). lysis is carried out by integration of psms into membranes, in a nonspecific fashion, which results in disruption of the membrane. different psms are able to lyse cells with different affinities. psmα, in "s. aureus", and psmδ, in "s. epidermidis", are the most potent cytolysins. while highly cytolytic psms, such as psmα and psmδ, are generally α-type psms the β-type psms tend to be less cytolytic.