Characterization of Seven Shiga Toxin Phages Induced from Human-Derived Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

ABSTRACT: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important pathogen that can cause asymptomatic infections, diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis (HC), and life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Shiga toxins (Stxs) are the major virulence factors encoded by prophages, which play a crucial role in STEC pathogenesis and evolution. In this study, seven Stx phages were obtained from STEC isolates derived from four asymptomatic food handlers, two diarrheal patients, and one outbreak-related HUS case in China. These phages exhibited three morphologies: an icosahedral head with either a short or a long tail, and an elongated head with a long tail. Of these seven phages, three were sequenced; two showed a complete identity with their respective prophage sequences, while phag

SUBMITTER: Sui X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12029490 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature