New challenge for the diagnosis of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli: recombinant antibody obtention against different virulence factors

Abstract

Acute diarrheal infections are still identified as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Annually is estimated approximately 2 to 2.5 million deaths associated with diarrhea in children under five years. Among the pathogens, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli account for 30 to 40% of the acute diarrhea episodes in developing countries. In this context, the diagnosis is an important tool to minimize and control occurrences. However, while V. cholerae, Shigella spp, and rotavirus can be detected by standard tests, the detection of E. coli is more difficult, and the fact that, mistakenly, this pathogen is not usually regarded as the leading cause of diarrhea in children. Among the diarrheagenic E. coli, the categories of epidemiological relevance and importance are: enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) that has as its main virulence factors the production of heat-stable toxins (ST) and heat-labile (LT), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) has intimin and Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) produces the potent Shiga cytotoxins (Stx1 and / or stx2). Antibodies are important tools in the detection of various pathogens, the recombinant antibodies enter as a new option for rapid detection of pathogens, thus improving their immunodiagnostic through its virulence factors. (AU)