Shiga toxin: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
'''Shiga Toxins''' are a family of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AB5_toxin AB5] toxins which cause dysentery in humans. They are primarily secreted by Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichia coli (STEC), notably by the 0157:H7 strain.<ref name=Wagner>PMID: 12010491</ref> The stx gene is not endogenous to these strains, but is introduced by environmental prophages of the lambda bacteriophage family and incorporated into the E. Coli genome.<ref name=Wagner>PMID: 12010491</ref> | '''Shiga Toxins''' are a family of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AB5_toxin AB5] toxins (Stx1 and Stx2) which cause dysentery and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans. They are primarily secreted by Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichia coli (STEC), notably by the 0157:H7 strain.<ref name=Wagner>PMID: 12010491</ref> STEC's are one of the major foodborne pathogens, affecting both developed and third-world countries. The stx gene is not endogenous to these strains, but is introduced by environmental prophages of the lambda bacteriophage family and incorporated into the E. Coli genome.<ref name=Wagner>PMID: 12010491</ref> Shiga Toxins are closely related to [[ricin]], which is structurally and mechanistically similar. Shiga toxin acts to inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and is the main virulence factor of STEC. | ||
==Structure== | ==Structure== | ||
