Shiga toxin
/ˈSHēɡə ˌtäksən
/noun
A toxin produced by the bacterium Shigella dysenteriae, or a similar one produced by E. coli, causing dysentery in humans: during infection there are changes of cytokine levels that can be ascribed to an effect of Shiga toxin on different cell types...
- E. coli produces two known toxins called Shiga toxins, which can cause fatal kidney damage.
- Stec strains carry a set of virulence genes that encode the factors for attachment to host cells, elaboration of effective molecules and production of two different types of Shiga toxins.
- The assay was based on the incorporation of digoxigenin labeled dUTP and a biotin labeled primer specific for Shiga toxin genes during PCR amplification.
Origin
Early 20th century: from the name of Shigella dysenteriae (see also shigella).