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Determination of Tolerable Fatty Acids and Cholera Toxin Concentrations Using Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells and BALB/c Mouse Macrophages
09:39

Determination of Tolerable Fatty Acids and Cholera Toxin Concentrations Using Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells and BALB/c Mouse Macrophages

Published on: May 30, 2013

Gastrointestinal carriage of toxigenic bacteria: relation to diarrhea and to serum immune response

A H Cushing, J Smart

    The Journal of Infectious Diseases
    |January 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Heat-labile enterotoxigenic (LT+) bacteria exposure in infants correlated with diarrhea episodes. Immune responses to cholera toxin were observed following diarrhea, but not asymptomatic LT+ bacteria carriage.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Microbiology
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Enterotoxigenic bacteria are a significant cause of infant diarrhea worldwide.
    • Understanding the immune response to these pathogens is crucial for developing effective interventions.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the association between heat-labile enterotoxigenic (LT+) bacteria and infant diarrhea.
    • To examine the development of serum antibodies to cholera toxin in response to LT+ bacteria exposure and diarrhea.

    Main Methods:

    • A prospective cohort study followed infants from birth to two years.
    • Fecal samples were analyzed for LT+ bacteria, and weekly questionnaires recorded diarrhea episodes.
    • Serum samples were collected at various time points and tested for antibodies to cholera toxin.

    Main Results:

    • LT+ bacteria were identified in 16% of fecal samples, with LT+ Escherichia coli in 11%.
    • Diarrhea episodes were linked to LT+ bacteria isolation, with bacterial species and exposure duration correlating with illness.
    • A fourfold rise in antibody titer to cholera toxin followed 53% of diarrhea episodes caused by LT+ bacteria.

    Conclusions:

    • Exposure to LT+ bacteria is associated with infant diarrhea.
    • Immune responses, indicated by antibody titers, are triggered by diarrhea episodes involving LT+ bacteria.
    • Asymptomatic carriage of LT+ bacteria did not elicit a significant antibody response.

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