A Macroporous Magnesium Oxide-Templated Carbon Adsorbs Shiga Toxins and Type III Secretory Proteins in Enterohemorrhagic , Which Attenuates Virulence.

Enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) is one of the most common foodborne pathogens. However, no drug that prevents the severe complications caused by this bacterium has been approved yet. This study showed that a macroporous magnesium oxide (MgO)-templated carbon material (MgOC) adsorbs Shiga toxins, and Type III secretory EspA/EspB proteins responsible for EHEC pathogenesis, and decreases the extracellular levels of these proteins. On the other hand, this material did not affect the growth of EHEC. traditionally used to estimate Type III secretion system-associated virulence in mice is highly virulent. The survival period of infected mice was prolonged when MgOC was administered. This adsorbent disturbed neither mammalian cells nor normal intestinal bacteria, such as , , and . In contrast, MgOC adsorbed antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams, quinolones, tetracyclines, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. However, fosfomycin and amikacin were not adsorbed. Thus, MgOC can be used with fosfomycin and amikacin to treat infections. MgOC is used for industrial purposes, such as an electrode catalyst, a bioelectrode, and enzyme immobilization. The study proposed another potential application of MgOC, assisting anti-EHEC chemotherapy.