title: Ability of human sera to neutralise the activity of Vero cytotoxins VT1, VT2 and variant forms of VT2.
abstract: Sera, from 17 patients with diarrhoea or haemolytic uraemic syndrome, and six healthy adults, were tested for neutralisation of Vero cytotoxins (VT). For all 17 patients there was evidence of infection with Escherichia coli O157. Sera from two controls but from none of the patients neutralised VT1, although two patients were infected by strains producing VT1 and VT2. Sera from all six controls and 14 patients neutralised VT2 derived from strains 933 and E32511, but not variant forms of VT2 derived from strains E32511, E57, B2F1 and H.1.8. This neutralising activity warrants further investigation, especially as many O157 VTEC carry both VT2 and VT2 variant genes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Scotland
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Said
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2