Vibrio Cholerae and diarrhea

• How Vibrio cholerae causes diarrhoea

  1. Releases toxins in the small intestine

  2. Toxins bind to proteins on the membrane of the small intestine

  3. Toxins cause chloride ions to move into the lumen of the small intestine

  4. Chloride ions Reduce the water potential of the lumen

  5. Water and ions moves into the lumen by osmosis from the bloodstream

  6. More water in the small intestine lumen leads to diarrhea and therefore dehydration