At a Glance
- Researchers at La Trobe University have discovered how the EspC toxin produced by Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) causes severe diarrhea and dehydration by damaging the epithelial cells in the gut.
- The study led by Professor Begoña Heras and Dr. Jason Paxman revealed that EspC acts like molecular scissors, cutting proteins inside gut cells, contributing to the infection’s symptoms, especially in children.
- EPEC is one of several E. coli strains responsible for gut infections. This strain causes the majority of diarrhea cases in children globally, highlighting the need for new antibiotic treatments.
- The study emphasizes the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, as overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics harms beneficial gut bacteria and contributes to bacterial resistance, including EPEC.
- By understanding the structure of the EspC toxin, the study lays the foundation for developing targeted treatments that could combat EPEC infections more effectively without harming beneficial bacteria.
Researchers at La Trobe University have uncovered how a dangerous bacterium, Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), causes severe diarrhea and potentially fatal dehydration in children. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, reveals how EPEC uses a toxic enzyme called EspC to invade and destroy the epithelial cells that line the gut. EspC works like “molecular scissors,” cutting through the protein structure inside these cells, leading to the symptoms of infection.
The research team, led by Professor Begoña Heras and Dr. Jason Paxman, focused on understanding the structure of the EspC toxin. They found that the toxin can cut the cells’ internal proteins, causing damage that contributes to the gut infection. This process is particularly dangerous for infants and young children, who are highly vulnerable to dehydration caused by diarrhea. Understanding how this toxin works is crucial for developing targeted treatments, especially since many common antibiotics are becoming less effective due to antimicrobial resistance.
EPEC is just one strain of E. coli that causes gut infections. While some strains like Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) cause illness using different toxins, EPEC is responsible for most diarrhea cases in children worldwide. The study emphasizes the urgent need for new antibiotics and treatments, as current methods often involve broad-spectrum antibiotics that can harm beneficial gut bacteria. This overuse of antibiotics has led to many bacterial pathogens, including EPEC, becoming resistant to treatments.
The findings of this study lay the groundwork for future drug development. By understanding the detailed structure of the EspC toxin, scientists can now work on creating more specific medications that target EPEC without affecting other bacteria. This research highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches in tackling complex health problems and offers hope for more effective treatments to combat dangerous infections like EPEC.
References
- Pilapitiya, A. U., Hor, L., Pan, J., Wijeyewickrema, L. C., Pike, R. N., Leyton, D. L., Paxman, J. J., & Heras, B. (2025). The crystal structure of the toxin EspC from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli reveals the mechanism that governs host cell entry and cytotoxicity. Gut Microbes, 17(1), 2483777. https://doi.org/10.1080/19490976.2025.2483777
- La Trobe University. (2025, April 4). Scientists reveal new toxin that damages the gut. Phys.Org; La Trobe University. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-scientists-reveal-toxin-gut.html
