Open AccessToxicity of Shiga Toxin 1 in the Central Nervous System of Rabbits
Author(s) -
Jun Fujii,
Yoshimasa Kinoshita,
Takashi Yutsudo,
Hatsumi Taniguchi,
Tom G. Obrig,
Shigeaki Yoshida
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.69.10.6545-6548.2001
Subject(s) - central nervous system , shiga toxin , spinal cord , biology , toxin , antiserum , toxicity , cerebrospinal fluid , nervous system , pathology , pharmacology , immunology , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , endocrinology , virulence , neuroscience , biochemistry , gene
The action of Shiga toxin (Stx) on the central nervous system was examined in rabbits. Intravenous Stx1 was 44 times more lethal than Stx2 and acted more rapidly than Stx2. However, Stx1 accumulated more slowly in the cerebrospinal fluid than did Stx2. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a predominance of Stx1-dependent lesions in the spinal cord. Pretreatment of the animals with anti-Stx1 antiserum intravenously completely protected against both development of brain lesions and mortality.