Pilot study of whole-blood gamma interferon response to the Vibrio cholerae toxin B subunit and resistance to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-associated diarrhea.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which produces heat-labile toxin (LT), is a common cause of travelers' diarrhea (TD). The B subunit of ETEC LT is immunologically related to the B subunit of Vibrio cholerae toxin (CT). In this pilot study we evaluated the whole-blood gamma interferon response to CT B in 17 U.S. adults traveling to Mexico. Only one of nine subjects who demonstrated a cellular immune response as determined by whole-blood gamma interferon production to CT B on arrival to Mexico developed diarrhea, whereas five of eight without a cellular response developed diarrhea. Markers of the cellular immune response to ETEC LT could help in identifying individuals immune to ETEC LT, and these markers deserve additional study.
Flores
Jose
J
Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
DuPont
Herbert L
HL
Paredes-Paredes
Mercedes
M
Aguirre-Garcia
M Magdalena
MM
Rojas
Araceli
A
Gonzalez
Alexei
A
Okhuysen
Pablo C
PC
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002772:Cholera Toxin / Q000276:immunology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054307:Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014195:Travel; D014481:United States
D015415:Biomarkers; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002772:Cholera Toxin