Therapeutic Antibodies Against Shiga Toxins: Trends and Perspectives.

Shiga toxins (Stx) are AB-type toxins, composed of five B subunits which bind to Gb host cell receptors and an active A subunit, whose action on the ribosome leads to protein synthesis suppression. The two Stx types (Stx1 and Stx2) and their subtypes can be produced by Shiga toxin-producing strains and some spp. These bacteria colonize the colon and induce diarrhea that may progress to hemorrhagic colitis and in the most severe cases, to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which could lead to death.