Alison D. O'Brien

TL;DR: Although Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 (Shiga) toxin was discovered more than 80 years ago and has long been recognized as one of the most potent bacterial toxins, early efforts to characterize its structure, biologic activity, genetics, role in pathogenesis, and other properties were hindered by difficulties in preparing pure toxin, obtaining appropriate immunologic reagents, and conducting genetic studies.

TL;DR: Using a consistent schema for nomenclature of the Stx toxins and stx genes by phylogenetic sequence-based relatedness of the holotoxin proteins, a typing approach should obviate the need to bioassay each newly described toxin and that predicts important biological characteristics.

TL;DR: One of these phages and another Shiga-like toxin-converting phage from an Escherichia coli O26 isolate associated with infantile diarrhea were closely related in terms of morphology, virion polypeptides, DNA restriction fragments, lysogenic immunity, and heat stability, although a difference in host range was noted.

TL;DR: Findings indicate that E. coli produces two genetically related but antigenically distinct cytotoxins with similar biologic activities which are proposed to name Shiga-like toxins I and II.

TL;DR: Strains of Escherichia coli previously implicated or proven to be causes of diarrhea were examined for production of a toxin similar to that of Shigella dysenteriae type 1 (Shiga), suggesting that Shiga-like toxin may be another heretofore undiscovered factor in the pathogenesis of diarrhea caused by some E. coli strains.