Blood group antigens represent polymorphic traits inherited among individuals and
populations. At present, there are 34 recognized human blood groups and hundreds of …

After De's pivotal demonstration in 1959 of a diarrhoeogenic exo-enterotoxin in cell-free
culture filtrates from Vibrio cholerae (of classical biotype), much insight has been gained …

Deformability of the plasma membrane, the outermost surface of metazoan cells, allows cells
to be dynamic, mobile and flexible. Factors that affect this deformability, such as tension on …

Virus-induced membrane fusion can be subdivided into three phases defined by studies of
class I and class II fusion proteins. During Phase I, two membranes are brought into close …

Shiga toxins (Stxs), syn. Vero (cyto) toxins, are potent bacterial exotoxins and the principal
virulence factor of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a subset of Shiga toxin …

Endocytosis mediates nutrient uptake, receptor internalization and the regulation of cell
signaling. It is also hijacked by many bacteria, viruses and toxins to mediate their cellular …

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of eukaryotic plasma membranes
that consist of a ceramide backbone linked to a glycan moiety. Both the ceramide and the …

At first glance, the biological function of globoside (Gb) clusters appears to be that of
glycosphingolipid (GSL) receptors for bacterial toxins that mediate host-pathogen …

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause an enteric illness that results in a
spectrum of outcomes ranging from asymptomatic carriage to uncomplicated diarrhea …

Neural development is accomplished by differentiation events leading to metabolic
reprogramming. Glycosphingolipid metabolism is reprogrammed during neural development …