Colonization factor antigen 6 (CS6)

Colonization factor antigen 6 (CS6) is a widely expressed surface organelle of enterotoxigenic *Escherichia coli*. CS6 is a heteropolymeric adhesin composed of two subunits, CssA and CssB, which are alternately assembled into linear fibers on the bacterial surface via the chaperone-usher pathway[1][2][6]. CS6 facilitates high-affinity attachment of bacteria to the small intestinal epithelium through binding to host cell receptors, including fibronectin and the glycosphingolipid sulfatide, enabling ETEC colonization and subsequent delivery of diarrheagenic toxins[1][3][4]. CS6 is distinct from most ETEC colonization factors in that it is non-fimbrial, and its molecular assembly and receptor interactions have been elucidated through structural and binding studies[1][2][3][4]. Because it is crucial for ETEC pathogenicity, CS6 is under investigation as a vaccine antigen and a therapeutic target for preventing diarrheal diseases caused by ETEC[1][4][6].

Other names

CS6Coli surface antigen 6

For potential therapies: inhibition of bacterial adhesion to the gut epithelium by blocking CS6-receptor interactions, neutralization by antibodies, vaccine-induced immune response