Mechanisms of disease and immunity in cholera: a review

The adenyl cyclase-activating enterotoxin of Vibrio cholerae was shown to contain two types of subunit: six smaller units (L) that are responsible for the binding to cell membrane receptors and a larger unit (H) that mediates the toxic action. The receptor was identified as the ganglioside GM1 (galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl [sialosyl] lactosyl ceramide), and the results suggested that penetration of the toxin molecule into the membrane follows the rapid binding to GM1. The relationship of these findings to the mechanism of protective immunity, which is mediated by antibodies to the enterotoxin as well as those to the cell wall lipopolysaccharide of V. cholerae, was investigated. The antitoxic antibodies were directed mainly against the L subunit and protected by preventing binding of toxin; the antibacterial antibodies probably interfered with adhesion of V. cholerae to the intestine. The finding that the immune responses to toxin and bacteria act synergistically in protection against experimental cholera indicates that an improved cholera vaccine should contain both toxoid and lipopolysaccharide as antigens. In the rabbit, either subcutaneous or enteral immunization gave rise to intestinal synthesis of specific antibodies to V. cholerae.