Response of Mammalian Cell Lines to the Toxins of Escherichia Coli

The effects of the thermolabile (LT) and thermostable (ST) enterotoxins and the Vero-cell (VT) toxin of Escherichia coli were studied in continuous cell lines in tissue culture. The LT enterotoxin induced morphological changes in mouse adrenal (Y-1), Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) and African green-monkey kidney (Vero) cells. VT toxin produced cytotoxic effects in adult Rhesus-monkey kidney (LLC-MK2), human embryonic foreskin (HFS) and Vero cells. The ST enterotoxin had no effect on any of the cell lines.