Therapeutic Antibodies Against Shiga Toxins: Trends and Perspectives

HENRIQUE, IZABELLA DE MACEDO; SACERDOTI, FLAVIA; FERREIRA, RAISSA LOZZARDO; HENRIQUE, CAMILA; AMARAL, MARIA MARTA; PIAZZA, ROXANE MARIA FONTES; LUZ, DANIELA

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA

Año: 2022 vol. 12

Shiga toxins (Stx) are AB5-type toxins, composed of five B subunits which bind to Gb3host cell receptors and an active A subunit, whose action on the ribosome leads to proteinsynthesis suppression. The two Stx types (Stx1 and Stx2) and their subtypes can beproduced by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains and some Shigella spp. Thesebacteria colonize the colon and induce diarrhea that may progress to hemorrhagic colitisand in the most severe cases, to hemolytic uremic syndrome, which could lead to death.Since the use of antibiotics in these infections is a topic of great controversy, the treatmentremains supportive and there are no specific therapies to ameliorate the course.Therefore, there is an open window for Stx neutralization employing antibodies, whichare versatile molecules. Indeed, polyclonal, monoclonal, and recombinant antibodies havebeen raised and tested in vitro and in vivo assays, showing differences in their neutralizingability against deleterious effects of Stx. These molecules are in different phases ofdevelopment for which we decide to present herein an updated report of theseantibody molecules, their source, advantages, and disadvantages of the promisingones, as well as the challenges faced until reaching their applicability