Gastrointestinal disease caused by Shiga toxin-producing bacteria (such
as Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shigella dysenteriae) is often
complicated by life-threatening toxin-induced systemic sequelae, including
hemolytic−uremic syndrome. Such infections can now be diagnosed very
early in the course of the disease, but at present no effective therapeutic
intervention is possible. Here, we constructed a recombinant bacterium that
displayed a Shiga toxin receptor mimic on its surface, and it adsorbed and
neutralized Shiga toxins with very high efficiency. Moreover, oral administration
of the recombinant bacterium completely protected mice from challenge with
an otherwise 100%-fatal dose of Shiga toxigenic E. coli. Thus, the
bacterium shows great promise as a 'probiotic' treatment for Shiga
toxigenic E. coli infections and dysentery.
