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Cholera Toxin: Membrane Gangliosides and Activation of Adenylate Cyclase

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The Specificity and Action of Animal, Bacterial and Plant Toxins

Part of the book series: Receptors and Recognition ((RERE))

Abstract

Asiatic cholera is a disease caused by the local action of a specific bacterial exotoxin on the small intestine and is characterized by a profuse outpouring of fluid at rates up to 20 liters per day (Pierce et al. 1971). The victims rapidly exhibit symptoms of hypovolemic shock, and if unassisted, may succomb within 8 hours of the onset of diarrhea. One of the earliest descriptions of cholera by a European records epidemics near Goa in 1503 and 1545:

... so grievous was the throe and of so bad an aspect that the very worst poison seemed there to take effect as proved by vomiting and cramps that fixed the sinew to the joints... the eyes dimmed to sense... and the nailes of the hands and feet black and arched. (Pollitzer, 1959).

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© 1977 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Bennett, V., Cuatrecasas, P. (1977). Cholera Toxin: Membrane Gangliosides and Activation of Adenylate Cyclase. In: Cuatrecasas, P. (eds) The Specificity and Action of Animal, Bacterial and Plant Toxins. Receptors and Recognition. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7206-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-7206-4_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-412-09730-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-7206-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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