Naja naja atra and Naja nigricollis cardiotoxins induce fusion of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus membrane-mimicking liposomes

► Fusogenicity of CTX3 and toxin γ correlates positively with their membrane-damaging activity. ► Unlike toxin γ, CTX3 increasingly induces leakage and fusion of phospholipid vesicles with increased cardiolipin content. ► Fusogenicity and membrane-damaging activity of CTX3 and toxin γ are associated with their membrane interacted-mode.