A potent bacterial toxin known as Subtilase cytotoxin is produced by some kinds of E. coli bacteria that targets on human cells with a non-human cellular molecule on their surface. It seems that N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is one of its favorite targets. N-glycolylneuraminic acid is a type of glycan or sugar molecule and its high levels are found in red meat and dairy products.
Subtilase cytotxin leads to bloody diarrhea and can become the cause of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) that is a potentially fatal disease.
The study has been published online in the journal Nature Oct. 29 issue.
