Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of emergent bacteria that cause a wide spectrum of diseases, responsible for 100,000 cases of illness and 3,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States alone. Eight percent of patients hospitalized from STEC infections develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication. An estimated total medical cost for treatment of HUS are over $500,000 per year. HUS survivors may have lasting kidney damage. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies in the United States to treat illness from STEC infection. The use of antibiotics is not recommended because they have been shown to stimulate Shiga toxin (Stx) production. Stx is one of the most important virulence factors shown to be closely associated with HUS. Since the first discovery of Stx in 1977, numerous Stxs have been identified and characterized. As the diversity of the Stx family has become clear, the methods for detecting Stxs and organisms that produce these toxins have evolved as well. In this presentation, we will discuss the recent advances in typing, characterization and detection of Stxs.

Recent development in typing, characterization and detection of Shiga toxins produced by pathogenic E. coli

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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