Cholera Toxins (eBook)

Dr. Keya Chaudhuri (b. 1952) obtained her PhD degree from Jadavpur University in 1983 and is presently working as Senior Scientist & Deputy Director at the Molecular & Human Genetics Division of the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India. Her research focuses on Vibrio cholerae infection, mainly on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease-process, with special emphasis on the identification of bacterial gene products that become apparent during the infection as well as their role in V. cholerae pathogenesis and the elucidation of host response at the molecular level. Besides Vibrio cholerae, her research interest includes bioinformatics and cancer biology. Professor S. N. Chatterjee (b. 1932) received his PhD degree from the University of Calcutta in 1958. He worked for several years as Associate Professor & Head of the Biophysics Department at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine and then as Senior Professor & Chairman (1977–1992) of the Biophysics Division and Director (1990-1991) of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics in Kolkata. Subsequently he continued to work at the SINP as Senior Scientist, an emeritus-ship awarded by the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi. Besides Vibrio cholerae and cholera bacteriophages, his research interests include the electron microscopy of biomolecules, free radicals biology involving ultrasound and UVA, and the molecular toxicology of nitrofurans. He is a fellow of several academies and recipient of many awards.

Preface 5
Contents 9
An Introduction to Cholera 15
Bacterial Toxins: A Brief Overview 18
Vibrio cholerae, the Causative Organism 25
Endotoxin of Vibrio cholerae: Physical and Chemical Characterization 44
Endotoxin of Vibrio cholerae: Genetics of Biosynthesis 66
Endotoxin of Vibrio cholerae: Biological Functions 91
Cholera Toxin (CT): Structure 114
Cholera Toxin (CT): Organization and Function of the Relevant Genetic Elements 133
Cholera Toxin (CT): Regulation of the Relevant Virulence Genes 154
Cholera Toxin (CT): Secretion by the Vibrios 172
Cholera Toxin (CT): Entry and Retrograde Trafficking into the Epithelial Cell 192
Cholera Toxin (CT): Immune Response of the Host and Vaccine Production 205
Other Toxins of Vibrio cholerae 219
Concluding Notes 250
Appendix 253
References 270
Index 313