28-Apr-2026Rocío García EspejoVerotoxin, or Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), is an endotoxin whose functional mechanism in the body differs from the exotoxin responsible for enteropathogenic E. coli. Stx2e is a toxin that induces symptoms of edema disease in the host. A study titled Effect of zinc supplementation on Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli in vitro found that Stx2e production by STEC was significantly lower in media containing supplemental zinc.

On the other hand, when certain classes of antimicrobials (such as ampicillin) are used to treat edema disease, the produced Stx2e accumulates within the cell body and can be released upon the destruction of the bacterial cell, leading to an exacerbated worsening of clinical symptoms. Therefore, to avoid the massive release of Stx2e, it is crucial to understand the antibacterial mechanism of action employed. Furthermore, it has also been proven that α-hemolysin (another virulence factor) produced by this type of bacteria is also significantly lower in the presence of zinc.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that zinc inhibits the production of Stx2e and hemolysin by preventing the synthesis of these proteins within the bacterial cytoplasm.