Antigenic and structural variations in the cholera/coli family of enterotoxins.

Recent observations establish the existence of a family of ADP-ribosylating, adenylate cyclase-activating, heat-labile enterotoxins which are structurally, functionally, and immunologically related to the cholera enterotoxin. Despite their overall similarity, it is clear that there are significant structural and immunological differences within the group. These conclusions are supported by extensive experiments comparing the precipitin activity and neutralizing effects of various specific antisera, before and after purification by immunoaffinity chromatography and solid phase immunoaffinity adsorption of common and cross-reactive antibody species, on the various pure enterotoxins. It will be of great importance to determine the full range of the antigenic and structural drift among this family of enterotoxins. The results will have significance in efforts to develop effective broad spectrum antitoxic immunity and also in the development of rapid and reliable techniques for the identifications of enterotoxic enteropathogens.