Evaluation of a microplate latex agglutination method (Verotox-F assay) for detecting and characterizing verotoxins (Shiga toxins) in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: The performance of a commercial microplate latex agglutination assay, the Verotox-F assay, was compared with that of the Vero cell assay for the detection and characterization of Escherichia coli verocytotoxins (VTs). Culture filtrates of 68 VT-positive E. coli strains (65 human isolates [33 of serotype O157:H7/H-, 32 of non-O157 serotypes] and 3 reference strains) and 104 VT-negative strains (100 human isolates and 4 reference strains) were investigated. The toxin phenotypes and genotypes of the 68 VT-positive isolates were VT1 only (18 strains), VT2 and/or VT2c (33 strains), and VT1 plus VT2 (17 strains). The Verotox-F assay involved incubation of serial dilutions of culture filtrates with equal volumes of latex particles sensitized with anti-VT1 antibody or anti-VT2 antibody in 96-well

SUBMITTER: Karmali MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC84318 | biostudies-literature | 1999 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature