Cytolethal distending toxin-producing Escherichia coli clinical isolates from Mexican children harbor different cdt types causing CDT-induced epithelial pathological phenotypes.

ABSTRACT: Cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs), encoded by cdtABC genes, have DNase activity leading to cellular and nuclear distention, resulting in actin remodeling, irreversible cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of target cells. PCR cdt-positive Escherichia coli strains have been isolated from children with diarrhea worldwide. However, toxin production and biological activity of cdt⁺ strains are rarely confirmed. Here, we characterized the biological activity of cdt⁺ E. coli of clinical isolates from Mexican children with severe diarrhea and its relationship with the harbored cdt type. Ten isolates from seven patients containing cdt⁺ E. coli, one isolate from a patient containing cdt^- E. coli, and a prototype CDT-producing E. coli were used to determine th

SUBMITTER: Huerta-Cantillo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11788229 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature