FACTORS THAT BIND INTESTINAL TOXINS

摘要

Methods for neutralizing bacterial toxins such as Shiga toxins and cholera toxins are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method is provided for treating a subject suffering from an infection caused by an Stx-producing organism by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a hop bract tannin obtained from Humulus lupulus. Also provided are methods for isolatin g polyphenolic compounds that bind Stx molecules, and methods for detecting th e presence of Stx molecules in a biological sample. In a disclosed embodiment, a subject infected with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain is treated by enterically administering a high molecular weight fraction of hop bract extract to the subject.