Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli pathogen antigens (Shigella/ETEC antigens)

Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) pathogen antigens represent a critical group of virulence factors and surface proteins targeted for the development of combined vaccines against diarrheal diseases [1, 2]. These antigens include Shigella invasion plasmid antigens (IpaB, IpaD), Shiga toxins (Stx), and ETEC colonization factors (CFA/I, CS1-CS6) along with heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins [2, 4, 5]. These pathogens are leading causes of moderate-to-severe diarrhea and dysentery, particularly in children in low-resource settings and international travelers [3, 11]. Vaccine candidates such as ShecVax and ShigETEC utilize these antigens to induce robust systemic and mucosal immune responses [2, 5, 7]. By eliciting neutralizing antibodies, these therapies aim to block bacterial adherence to the intestinal wall, inhibit the invasion of the colonic epithelium, and neutralize the debilitating effects of secreted toxins [4, 9]. Current research focuses on overcoming the high antigenic heterogeneity of these pathogens to provide broad, cross-protective immunity against multiple serotypes and strains [2, 8].

Other names

Shigella-ETEC antigensEnterotoxigenic E. coli and Shigella virulence factorsDiarrheal pathogen antigensEnteric bacterial antigensShigella and ETEC vaccine targets

Induction of systemic (IgG) and mucosal (IgA) neutralizing antibodies that inhibit bacterial adhesion to host cells, prevent cellular invasion, and neutralize the enterotoxicity of secreted toxins [1, 2, 5].