Final answer:
S. dysenteriae type 1 is the species of Shigella known to produce Shiga toxin. This toxin causes severe damage to the endothelial cells of the intestines, affecting protein synthesis and potentially leading to grave consequences like hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Step-by-step explanation:
Species of Shigella Producing Shiga Toxin
The species of Shigella that has a type known to produce Shiga toxin is Shigella dysenteriae, specifically S. dysenteriae type 1. This toxin adversely affects the endothelial cells of the blood vessels in the intestines, disrupting protein synthesis within these cells. This disruption can lead to hemorrhaging and lesions in the colon and may also impact the glomerulus of the kidneys, potentially resulting in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Shiga toxin production is significant because it is associated with severe gastrointestinal diseases and has a high potential for causing outbreaks of bacillary dysentery, or shigellosis. The large ribosomal subunit is targeted by the Shiga toxin in the affected cells, halting their ability to synthesize proteins, leading to cellular death.