Inhibition of Heat-Stable Toxin–Induced Intestinal Salt and Water Secretion by a Novel Class of Guanylyl Cyclase C Inhibitors

Background. Many enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains produce the heat-stable toxin, STa, which, by activation of the intestinal receptor-enzyme guanylyl cyclase (GC) C, triggers an acute, watery diarrhea. We set out to identify GCC inhibitors that may be of benefit for the treatment of infectious diarrheal disease.