Shiga toxins are a family of related toxins with two major groups, Stx1 and Stx2, expressed by genes considered to be part of the genome of lambdoid prophages. [1] The toxins are named after Kiyoshi Shiga, who first described the bacterial origin of …

Learn about what causes Shiga toxin, E. coli 0104:H4, how it spreads, what symptoms to look for, and how to prevent infection.

Escherichia coli that contain genes encoding Shiga toxins 1 and/or 2 are important human pathogens; these are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Some strains cause severe disease including painful bloody diarrhea, as well as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in some cases.

Sep 6, 2024 · Escherichia coli that contain genes encoding Shiga toxins 1 and/or 2 are important human pathogens; these are referred to as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Some strains, such as E. coli O157:H7, cause severe disease including painful bloody diarrhea, as well as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in some cases.

Shiga toxin (Stx) is one of the most potent bacterial toxins known. Stx is found in Shigella dysenteriae 1 and in some serogroups of Escherichia coli (called Stx1 in E. coli). In addition to or instead of Stx1, some E. coli strains produce a second type of Stx, Stx2, that has the same mode of action as Stx/Stx1 but that is antigenically distinct.

E. coli are a diverse group of bacteria that normally live in the intestines of humans and animals. Although most strains of these bacteria are harmless, some produce toxins that can make you sick and cause diarrhea (loose stool/poop) such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Who gets STEC infections? Anyone can get STEC infections.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a clinical syndrome involving hemolytic anemia (with fragmented red blood cells), low levels of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia), and acute kidney injury (AKI). It is the major infectious cause of AKI in children.

Infections with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause outbreaks of severe diarrheal disease in children and the elderly around the world. The severe complications associated with toxin production and release range from bloody diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis to hemolytic-uremic syndrome, kidney failure, and neurological issues.

Jul 25, 2008 · One such Stx2 variant, the Stx2d mucus-activatable toxin (Stx2dact), is rendered more toxic by the action of elastase present in intestinal mucus, which cleaves the last two amino acids of the A2 portion of the toxin A subunit.

Oct 16, 2009 · Shiga toxin--producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a leading cause of bacterial enteric infections in the United States. Prompt, accurate diagnosis of STEC infection is important because appropriate treatment early in the course of infection might decrease the risk for serious complications such as renal damage and improve overall patient outcome.