An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of Shiga toxins (Premier EHEC assay; Meridian Diagnostics, Inc.) was compared to conventional sorbitol-MacConkey culture for the recovery of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. A total of 74 enteric pathogens, including 8 E. coli O157:H7 isolates, were recovered from 974 stool specimens. Two of these specimens were not tested by Premier ass...

We determined the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in diarrheal stool samples from Nebraska by three methods: cefixime-tellurite sorbitol MacConkey (CT- SMAC) culture, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) enzyme immunoassay, and stx1,2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Fourteen (4.2%) of 335 specimens were positive by at least one method (CT-SMAC culture [6 of 14], EHEC en...

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli producing Shiga toxins 1 and/or 2 have become major foodborne pathogens. The specific binding of Shiga toxin 1 B-subunit to its receptor, a neutral glycolipid globotriaosylceramide Gb(3), on the apical surface of colonic epithelium followed by toxin entry into cells are the initial steps of the process, which can result in toxin transcytosis and systemic effec...

Atypical hemolytic uremia syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening disease, characterized by the same triad of anemia, thrombocytopenia and renal failure as seen in (HUS). It differs its etiology, being caused dysregulation complement pathway rather than Shiga-like toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Diagnosis usually after exclusion STEC infection also thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpu...

A multiplex real-time PCR method to simultaneously detect the stx1 and stx2 genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and a unique conserved single-nucleotide polymorphism in the E. coli O157:H7/H- uidA gene has been developed. There is more than 98.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity for all three gene targets based on a panel of 138 isolates. The PCR efficiencies were >/= 1.89, and as f...

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates from two 2006 outbreaks were compared to other O157:H7 isolates for virulence genotype, biofilm formation, and stress responses. Spinach- and lettuce-related-outbreak strains had similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns, and all carried both stx2 and stx2c variant genes. Cooperative biofilm formation involving an E. coli O157:H7 strain an...

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC) is by far the most prevalent serotype associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) although many non-O157 STEC strains have been also isolated from patients with HUS. The main virulence factor of STEC is the Shiga toxin type 2 (Stx2) present in O157 and non-O157 strains. Recently, another toxin, named subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB), has been...

Escherichia coli O157:H7-related vascular damage such as hemolytic uremic syndrome is believed to require the Shiga-like toxins. This study demonstrated that sodium butyrate sensitized human umbilical vein endothelial cells to Shiga toxin and increased the expression of Shiga toxin receptor, globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by Shiga toxin-producing bacteria Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 and select serotypes of Escherichia coli are primary virulence factors in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic colitis progressing to potentially fatal systemic complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome and central nervous system abnormalities. Current therapeutic options to treat patients infected ...