University of Glasgow scientists have achieved a breakthrough in treating dangerous food poisoning caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Their research, published in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, demonstrates that an antivirulence compound called Aurodox effectively treats STEC infections in mice, offering hope for a safer alternative to conventional antibiotics.
STEC infections present a particular challenge for medical treatment. Traditional antibiotics often worsen an e. coli/STEC condition by triggering the release of potent toxins into the patient’s gut while simultaneously disrupting beneficial gut bacteria. This leaves doctors with limited options for treating patients with severe symptoms, which can include bloody diarrhea, intense stomach cramps, and fever lasting up to two weeks.
Scotland faces a particularly severe STEC problem, with infection rates three times higher than the rest of the UK, giving it one of the highest incidence rates globally. Children represent nearly half of all Scottish STEC cases and face the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal condition that can cause acute kidney failure. Adults can develop a similar dangerous condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
The study builds on the research team’s 2018 discovery that Aurodox, first identified in 1973, could block infections from E. coli O157, one of the most dangerous STEC strains. Despite being discovered decades ago, Aurodox was found to be poorly active as a conventional antibiotic, but researchers have now revealed its potential as an antivirulence agent. Unlike traditional antibiotics, Aurodox prevents toxin release while appearing to influence gut microbiome in beneficial ways.
STEC infections represent a significant global health concern, with an estimated 2.8 million cases annually. Modern food supply infrastructure and climate change are increasing the frequency of large, multinational outbreaks, making the need for effective treatments more urgent than ever.
“Our findings in mice models are a huge step forward in the development of a new treatment for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which is a potentially fatal bacterial bug that is difficult to treat,” said Professor Andrew Roe, the study’s lead author and Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the University of Glasgow. “Our results are very encouraging and suggest that Aurodox could be used as a promising anti-virulence therapy.”
The researchers specifically evaluated how Aurodox affects the gut microbiome, an important consideration given the problems associated with antibiotic treatments. Their findings suggest that Aurodox may influence gut bacteria in ways that are beneficial rather than disruptive, marking a crucial advantage over existing treatment approaches.
Looking ahead, the research team plans to explore Aurodox’s potential against other pathogens using similar colonization systems and work with pharmaceutical companies to advance toward human clinical trials. While Professor Roe acknowledges that the path to clinical use remains “a long journey,” this research represents “an important milestone” in addressing a significant public health challenge.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading E. coli lawyer said, “New research that seeks to develop foodborne pathogen treatments are always welcome. With luck and hard work by researchers we should see some new therapies in the coming years.”
