A potent bacterial toxin known as Subtilase cytotoxin is produced by some kinds of E. coli bacteria that targets on human cells with a non-human cellular molecule on their surface. It seems that N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is one of its favorite targets. N-glycolylneuraminic acid is a type of glycan or sugar molecule and its high levels are found in red meat and dairy products.

Subtilase cytotxin leads to bloody diarrhea and can become the cause of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) that is a potentially fatal disease.

The study has been published online in the journal Nature Oct. 29 issue.

Dr. Ajit Varki, who is a professor of the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, says in a university news release: “Humans may set themselves up for a higher risk of disease from that sort of E. coli bacteria found in contaminated red meat or dairy, as these products have high-levels of Neu5Gc.”

According to the researchers, people must consume only well-cook meat or pasteurized dairy products, as most of contaminating bacteria can be destroyed by these two processes.