title: A simplified method for detecting the heat-labile enterotoxin of Escherichia coli.
abstract: A tissue-culture method is described that is suitable for screening large numbers of Escherichia coli isolates for heat-labile enterotoxin production. The method uses readily available laboratory media for culture of the E. coli and does not require cell-free extracts. Antibiotics are used to increase toxin production to levels that allow cultures from several different colonies to be pooled for testing, thus minimising the number of tissue-culture monolayers required. Y1 mouse adrenal cells are used in microplate cultures. The method is simple, sensitive and economical and is suitable for use in a routine diagnostic microbiology laboratory.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D001681:Biological Assay; D002460:Cell Line; D003470:Culture Media; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003470:Culture Media; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli