Cytolethal distending toxin in Escherichia coli O157:H7: spectrum of conservation, structure, and endothelial toxicity.
We identified the cytolethal distending toxin V (CDT-V) gene cluster in 19 (4.9%) of 391 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. cdt-V+ strains belonged to five phage types (PTs) and were most frequent within PTs 14 and 34. CDT-V was expressed in all but two cdt-V+ strains and was lethal to cultured endothelial cells. Subtyping schemes should include cdt-V as a marker to differentiate E. coli O157:H7 even within the same phage type.
Friedrich
Alexander W
AW
Institute for Hygiene, the National Consulting Laboratory on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, University Hospital Münster, Robert Koch Str. 41, and the IZKF Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany.
Lu
Shan
S
Bielaszewska
Martina
M
Prager
Rita
R
Bruns
Phillip
P
Xu
Jian-Guo
JG
Tschäpe
Helmut
H
Karch
Helge
H