Scientists have found a new toxin that claims millions of children's lives

Australian scientists from La Trobe University have made a revolutionary discovery, deciphering for the first time the deadly mechanism by which E. coli bacteria attack and destroy the human intestine. This scientific achievement sheds light on the causes of severe forms of diarrhea that claim the lives of more than a million children worldwide each year. The research results were published in the prestigious scientific journal Gut Microbes.

The research team was the first in history to determine the three-dimensional structure of the EspC toxin produced by the EPEC strain of E. coli. Scientists have established that this toxin functions like "molecular scissors," methodically cutting and destroying the protein foundation of intestinal cells.

Particularly alarming is the fact that the EPEC strain continues to be the main culprit of diarrheal diseases among children in developing countries. According to World Health Organization statistics, the consequences of such infections annually cause the death of about 1.3 million children under the age of five. The problem is exacerbated by the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, which dramatically narrows therapeutic possibilities.

Professor Begonya Heras, who led the scientific work, noted the exceptional significance of the discovery. Understanding the principle of the toxin's action creates a foundation for the development of innovative, more effective medications.

Unlike traditional broad-spectrum antibiotics that destroy not only pathogenic but also beneficial bacteria, new generation drugs will be able to selectively neutralize the dangerous toxin while maintaining the natural balance of intestinal microflora.