Relationship between stx genotype and Stx2 expression level in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 strains

To determine the expression level of Shiga toxin (Stx) 2-related toxins (Stx2 and Stx2c) produced by each of 33 Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 strains, stx2 and stx2c mRNAs (stx2-related mRNA) were measured using real-time PCR with primers that recognize sequences common to stx2 and stx2c. The amount of Stx2 and Stx2c protein was measured using a reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) kit. Expression of stx2-related mRNA was significantly higher in STEC O157 strains carrying the stx2 gene (i.e., stx2, stx1/stx2, or stx2/stx2c) than in most strains that carried the stx2c gene but not the stx2 gene (i.e., stx2c or stx1/stx2c). RPLA might not measure the precise amount of each toxin variant; nevertheless, stx2-inclusive strains had 40-fold higher mean toxin titers than did strains that carried the stx2c gene but not the stx2 gene, with the exception of 1 stx2c strain. Interestingly, 1 stx2c strain that was isolated from a patient with severe hemorrhagic diarrhea had the highest stx2-related mRNA expression and the highest toxin titer of all 33 STEC O157 strains. Taken together, these findings indicated that measurement of stx2-related mRNA expression could reflect differences in production levels of toxins among STEC strains.