title: [Characteristics and molecular biology of verotoxin produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli].
abstract: In 1996, there were several large outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) O157:H7 in Japan. More than 9,000 people were infected with the bacteria and 11 of these infections were fatal. Verotoxins(VTs) produced by EHEC are responsible for the death due to mainly hemolytic uremic syndrome(HUS). The structure and mode of action of VTs are reviewed. The differences between VT1 and VT2 are also reviewed from the viewpoint of secretion, toxicity, and immunogenicity. The effect of antibiotics usage on the occurrence of HUS is briefly reported.
authors.affiliation: Saraya Biochemical Laboratory, Osaka University.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D019453:Escherichia coli O157; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2