Methods for the Identification of Host Receptors for Shiga Toxin

The Shiga toxin receptor glycolipid Gb₃ (globotriaosylceramide) is also known as the p^k blood group antigen (1 ) and as CD77, a germinal center B-cell differentiation antigen (2 ). Tissue localization of Gb₃ is associated with sites of Stx-induced pathology in animal models (3 –5 ) and in humans (6 ) and, as such, is a major determinant of Stx1-induced disease.