Pathogenesis and diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Pathogenesis and diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections

J C Paton et al. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998 Jul.

Abstract

Since their initial recognition 20 years ago, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains have emerged as an important cause of serious human gastrointestinal disease, which may result in life-threatening complications such as hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Food-borne outbreaks of STEC disease appear to be increasing and, when mass-produced and mass-distributed foods are concerned, can involve large numbers of people. Development of therapeutic and preventative strategies to combat STEC disease requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms by which STEC organisms colonize the human intestinal tract and cause local and systemic pathological changes. While our knowledge remains incomplete, recent studies have improved our understanding of these processes, particularly the complex interaction between Shiga toxins and host cells, which is central to the pathogenesis of STEC disease. In addition, several putative accessory virulence factors have been identified and partly characterized. The capacity to limit the scale and severity of STEC disease is also dependent upon rapid and sensitive diagnostic procedures for analysis of human samples and suspect vehicles. The increased application of advanced molecular technologies in clinical laboratories has significantly improved our capacity to diagnose STEC infection early in the course of disease and to detect low levels of environmental contamination. This, in turn, has created a potential window of opportunity for future therapeutic intervention.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

FIG. 1

FIG. 1

Flow chart for the molecular microbiological diagnosis of STEC infection.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Abaas S, Franklin A, Kuhn I, Orskov F, Orskov I. Cytotoxin activity on Vero cells among Escherichia coli strains associated with diarrhea in cats. Am J Vet Res. 1989;50:1294–1296. - PubMed
    1. Acheson D, Jacewicz M, Lincicome L, Bielinski D, Binion D, West G, Fiocchi C, Keusch G. 3rd International Symposium and Workshop on Shiga Toxin (Verotoxin)-Producing Escherichia coli Infections. Melville, N.Y: Lois Joy Galler Foundation for Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Inc.; 1997. Shiga toxin action on human intestinal microvascular endothelial cells (HIMEC), abstr. V144/V; p. 87. ..
    1. Acheson D W, Levine M M, Kaper J B, Keusch G T. Protective immunity to Shiga-like toxin I following oral immunization with Shiga-like toxin I B-subunit-producing Vibrio cholerae CVD 103-HgR. Infect Immun. 1996;64:355–357. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Acheson D W, Moore R, De-Breucker S, Lincicome L, Jacewicz M, Skutelsky E, Keusch G T. Translocation of Shiga toxin across polarized intestinal cells in tissue culture. Infect Immun. 1996;64:3294–3300. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Acheson D W K, De Breucker S, Donohue-Rolfe A, Kozak K, Yi A, Keusch G T. Development of a clinically useful diagnostic enzyme immunoassay for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection. In: Karmali M A, Goglio A G, editors. Recent advances in verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infections. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier Science B.V.; 1994. pp. 109–112.

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources