Treatment of bacterial dysentery

Abstract

Compounds which bind to shiga-like toxins (SLT) associated with enteric E. coli infection, compositions including the compounds, methods for the neutralization of (SLT) in a patient, and methods for the diagnosis of enteric E. coli infection are disclosed. The compounds include a core molecule bound to a plurality of linker arms, which in turn are bound to a plurality of bridging moieties, which in turn are bound to two or three di- or tri-saccharide moieties. The di- or tri-saccharide moieties themselves are active in binding to the SLTs. The presence of a plurality of bridged dimers of the di- and tri-saccharides is responsible for the increased binding affinity of the compounds relative to the di- and tri-saccharides themselves. The compounds, when administered in a timely fashion to a patient suffering from enteric E. coli infection, inhibit progression of this infection into hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).