Intestinal inflammation induced by heat-labile toxin-producing enterotoxigenic E: Coli infection and impact on immune responses in an experimental human challenge model.

ABSTRACT: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) causes significant morbidity, mortality, and growth faltering among children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While gut inflammation contributes to growth faltering, the role of ETEC in inflammation remains poorly understood. We previously demonstrated that ETEC-producing heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable toxins (ST) induced significant inflammation in humans, but LT-ETEC strains are understudied. In this study, we evaluated the intestinal inflammation induced by the LT-ETEC strain LSN03-016011/A in a human challenge model. Stool samples were analyzed for pre- and post-challenge myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, ETEC shedding, and ETEC-specific antibody responses. MPO, IL-1β, and CXCL-8 levels signi

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12510637 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature