The pathogenesis of Shigella diarrhea. V. Relationship of shiga enterotoxin, neurotoxin, and cytotoxin. 1975

G T Keusch, and M Jacewicz

The biological activity of the enterotoxin of Shigella dysenteriae 1 was compared with that of a well-studied 20-year-old partially purified preparation of neurotoxin from the same organism. Enterotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and cytotoxicity were present to an equivalent extent in both preparations. Human convalescent antisera and experimental rabbit antisera had equal toxin-neutralizing antibody to the cytotoxic activity in these toxin preparations. Multiple protein bands were present in each toxin studied. Two separate HeLa cell fractions could be obtained by Sephadex gel filtration chromatography, isoelectric focusing in a sucrose gradient, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Only one of these fractions (isoelectric at pH 7.2) was associated with enterotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The second smaller-molecular-weight fraction, which was isoelectric at pH 6.1, possessed only cytotoxic activity. These data suggest that Shiga enterotoxin and neurotoxin are closely related proteins and, indeed, may be identical. The nature of the cytotoxin with pH 6.1 is not clear, although it may be a subunit of the larger toxin that is capable of acting directly on the HeLa cell.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007082 Ileum The distal and narrowest portion of the SMALL INTESTINE, between the JEJUNUM and the ILEOCECAL VALVE of the LARGE INTESTINE.
D007525 Isoelectric Focusing Electrophoresis in which a pH gradient is established in a gel medium and proteins migrate until they reach the site (or focus) at which the pH is equal to their isoelectric point. Electrofocusing,Focusing, Isoelectric
D007928 Lethal Dose 50 The dose amount of poisonous or toxic substance or dose of ionizing radiation required to kill 50% of the tested population. LD50,Dose 50, Lethal
D003967 Diarrhea An increased liquidity or decreased consistency of FECES, such as running stool. Fecal consistency is related to the ratio of water-holding capacity of insoluble solids to total water, rather than the amount of water present. Diarrhea is not hyperdefecation or increased fecal weight. Diarrheas
D004591 Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D004768 Enterotoxins Substances that are toxic to the intestinal tract causing vomiting, diarrhea, etc.; most common enterotoxins are produced by bacteria. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin,Enterotoxin,Staphylococcal Enterotoxins,Enterotoxin, Staphylococcal,Enterotoxins, Staphylococcal
D006367 HeLa Cells The first continuously cultured human malignant CELL LINE, derived from the cervical carcinoma of Henrietta Lacks. These cells are used for, among other things, VIRUS CULTIVATION and PRECLINICAL DRUG EVALUATION assays. Cell, HeLa,Cells, HeLa,HeLa Cell
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006863 Hydrogen-Ion Concentration The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D012762 Shigella dysenteriae A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that is extremely pathogenic and causes severe dysentery. Infection with this organism often leads to ulceration of the intestinal epithelium. Bacillus dysenteriae,Bacillus dysentericus,Bacillus shigae,Eberthella dysenteriae,Shigella shigae

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