Bacterial and fungal enteropathogens and their toxins

Bacterial and fungal enteropathogens and their toxins encompass a broad spectrum of infectious agents and their secreted virulence factors that cause gastrointestinal disease (NIH, 2023). This group includes bacteria like Vibrio cholerae and Clostridium difficile, as well as fungi such as Candida species, which disrupt intestinal homeostasis through invasion or toxin production (StatPearls, 2024). Toxins, such as the Shiga toxin or C. difficile Toxin B, act by inhibiting protein synthesis or disrupting the host cell cytoskeleton, respectively (PubMed, 2021). Therapeutic intervention typically targets the pathogens themselves using antibiotics or antifungals, or targets the toxins using neutralizing monoclonal antibodies like bezlotoxumab (FDA, 2016). Because this entry refers to a collection of organisms and molecules rather than a single receptor or enzyme, it is not considered a discrete molecular target in drug discovery (PubChem, 2024). Instead, it represents a therapeutic area focused on treating enteric infections and toxemia.

Other names

Enteric pathogensGastrointestinal pathogensEnterotoxinsMycotoxinsGut pathogensEnteropathogenic bacteria and fungi

Inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis, inhibition of protein synthesis, neutralization of bacterial toxins, and disruption of fungal cell membrane integrity.