Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC ), certain disease-causing strains of the intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli ( E. coli ), the enterotoxin triggers massive diarrhea aqueous. It affects mostly young children in developing countries or travelers ( travelers' diarrhea ). You are responsible for 100 million infections and tens of thousands of deaths each year. Trigger is often contaminated food or drinking water.

Pathogenesis

ETEC strains possess additional plasmid genes. For adhesion to the epithelial cells in the intestine by ETEC strains have special fimbriae also Colonizing factors (CFA) mentioned which prevent the expulsion through the intestinal peristalsis. Furthermore, they have three eponymous toxins: a heat-labile enterotoxin LT, which is similar to the cholera toxin strongly and two to 100 ° C heat- stable toxins STa and STb. STa stimulates the guanylate cyclase, which promotes the absorption of Cl - and Na inhibits the secretion of.

Prophylaxis

Oral administration of an oral WC / RBS vaccine against cholera reduces the risk of traveler's diarrhea for a few months. Successful is the oral administration of rekombidant produced CtB containing formalin -killed ETEC strains with five cells, but not the good acts in young children. Another combination product consists of live - attenuated Shigella with vectors for expression of ETEC antigens for fimbriae and LT. In addition, a preparation against ETEC and typhoid in development.