Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC
Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, particularly in children in low- and middle-income countries. Its ability to rapidly colonize the intestinal tract through diverse colonization factors and toxins underpins its significant pub...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/71 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850078058376069120 |
|---|---|
| author | Josune Salvador-Erro Yadira Pastor Carlos Gamazo |
| author_facet | Josune Salvador-Erro Yadira Pastor Carlos Gamazo |
| author_sort | Josune Salvador-Erro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, particularly in children in low- and middle-income countries. Its ability to rapidly colonize the intestinal tract through diverse colonization factors and toxins underpins its significant public health impact. Despite extensive research and several vaccine candidates reaching clinical trials, no licensed vaccine exists for ETEC. This review explores the temporal and spatial coordination of ETEC virulence factors, focusing on the interplay between adherence mechanisms and toxin production as critical targets for therapeutic intervention. Advancements in molecular biology and host–pathogen interaction studies have uncovered species-specific variations and cross-reactivity between human and animal strains. In particular, the heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) toxins have provided crucial insights into molecular mechanisms and intestinal disruption. Additional exotoxins, such as EAST-1 and hemolysins, further highlight the multifactorial nature of ETEC pathogenicity. Innovative vaccine strategies, including multiepitope fusion antigens (MEFAs), mRNA-based approaches, and glycoconjugates, aim to enhance broad-spectrum immunity. Novel delivery methods, like intradermal immunization, show promise in eliciting robust immune responses. Successful vaccination against ETEC will offer an effective and affordable solution with the potential to greatly reduce mortality and prevent stunting, representing a highly impactful and cost-efficient solution to a critical global health challenge. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd8b375784f645e29f46d5ca962cadfa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd8b375784f645e29f46d5ca962cadfa2025-08-20T02:45:38ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-02-011727110.3390/toxins17020071Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETECJosune Salvador-Erro0Yadira Pastor1Carlos Gamazo2Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Navarra Medical Research Institute (IdiSNA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Navarra Medical Research Institute (IdiSNA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Navarra Medical Research Institute (IdiSNA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, SpainEnterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) is a major cause of diarrheal disease worldwide, particularly in children in low- and middle-income countries. Its ability to rapidly colonize the intestinal tract through diverse colonization factors and toxins underpins its significant public health impact. Despite extensive research and several vaccine candidates reaching clinical trials, no licensed vaccine exists for ETEC. This review explores the temporal and spatial coordination of ETEC virulence factors, focusing on the interplay between adherence mechanisms and toxin production as critical targets for therapeutic intervention. Advancements in molecular biology and host–pathogen interaction studies have uncovered species-specific variations and cross-reactivity between human and animal strains. In particular, the heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) toxins have provided crucial insights into molecular mechanisms and intestinal disruption. Additional exotoxins, such as EAST-1 and hemolysins, further highlight the multifactorial nature of ETEC pathogenicity. Innovative vaccine strategies, including multiepitope fusion antigens (MEFAs), mRNA-based approaches, and glycoconjugates, aim to enhance broad-spectrum immunity. Novel delivery methods, like intradermal immunization, show promise in eliciting robust immune responses. Successful vaccination against ETEC will offer an effective and affordable solution with the potential to greatly reduce mortality and prevent stunting, representing a highly impactful and cost-efficient solution to a critical global health challenge.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/71adjuvantenterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC)toxinsvaccine developmentvirulence factors |
| spellingShingle | Josune Salvador-Erro Yadira Pastor Carlos Gamazo Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC Toxins adjuvant enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) toxins vaccine development virulence factors |
| title | Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC |
| title_full | Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC |
| title_fullStr | Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC |
| title_full_unstemmed | Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC |
| title_short | Targeting Enterotoxins: Advancing Vaccine Development for Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> ETEC |
| title_sort | targeting enterotoxins advancing vaccine development for enterotoxigenic i escherichia coli i etec |
| topic | adjuvant enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ETEC) toxins vaccine development virulence factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/71 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josunesalvadorerro targetingenterotoxinsadvancingvaccinedevelopmentforenterotoxigeniciescherichiacoliietec AT yadirapastor targetingenterotoxinsadvancingvaccinedevelopmentforenterotoxigeniciescherichiacoliietec AT carlosgamazo targetingenterotoxinsadvancingvaccinedevelopmentforenterotoxigeniciescherichiacoliietec |