Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
07:58
Laboratory Techniques Used to Maintain and Differentiate Biotypes of Vibrio cholerae Clinical and Environmental Isolates
Published on: May 30, 2017
Cholera toxin - a foe & a friend
Joaquin Sanchez1, Jan Holmgren
1University of Gothenburg Vaccine Research Institute (GUVAX) & Department of Microbiology & Immunology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Indian Journal of Medical Research
|March 19, 2011
Summary
Cholera toxin (CT) has evolved from a cause of disease to a valuable research tool. Its non-toxic B-subunit (CTB) is now used in vaccines and for treating autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cholera toxin (CT) is a well-characterized microbial toxin produced by Vibrio cholerae.
- Initial research in the 1970s and 1980s defined its structure, function, receptor, and genetic basis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding cholera toxin.
- To highlight its evolving roles in scientific research and therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- 3D-crystal structure determination of CT.
- Identification of the CT-encoding bacteriophage.
- Studies on CT gene expression regulation.
- Investigation of CT cellular entry and transport.
Main Results:
- Elucidation of CT's 3D structure and genetic operon.
- Understanding of CT gene regulation by environmental signals.
- Clarification of CT's cellular uptake and transport mechanisms.
- Demonstration of CTB's immunogenicity and adjuvant properties.
Conclusions:
- CT is a prototype enterotoxin and a versatile tool in cell biology and physiology research.
- The non-toxic CTB subunit is a key component in oral cholera vaccines.
- CTB shows promise for treating autoimmune and allergic diseases by inducing immunological tolerance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Cholera
Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
01:12Bacterial Toxins
Bacterial toxins are sophisticated virulence factors that enable pathogenic bacteria to interact with, invade, and damage host tissues. These toxins fall broadly into two types: protein exotoxins, which are secreted into the environment and target specific host receptors, and lipopolysaccharide endotoxins, which are structural components of the bacterial outer membrane released primarily during bacterial lysis or membrane shedding. Exotoxins generally act more selectively, binding to cell...
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...
01:36Types of Toxins
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
01:22Botulism
Botulism is a life-threatening neuroparalytic condition caused by botulinum neurotoxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobe.In adults, the toxin enters the body in different ways: in foodborne botulism, the preformed toxin is absorbed in the intestine. In wound botulism, spores grow in injured tissue and release the toxin into the blood. Infant botulism differs mechanistically from adult forms. In infants, botulism commonly...
01:18Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid receptor...