Review

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Samonella, Shigella and Yersinia: cellular aspects of host-bacteria interactions in enteric diseases

Roberta S Reis^1,2 and Fabiana Horn^1*

• * Corresponding author: Fabiana Horn fabiana.horn@ufrgs.br

Author Affiliations

¹ Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, P.O. Box 15005, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil

² Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Sarmento Leite, 500, 90050-170, Porto Alegre, Brazil

For all author emails, please log on.

Gut Pathogens 2010, 2:8 doi:10.1186/1757-4749-2-8

Published: 22 July 2010

Abstract

A successful infection of the human intestine by enteropathogenic bacteria depends on the ability of bacteria to attach and colonize the intestinal epithelium and, in some cases, to invade the host cell, survive intracellularly and disseminate from cell to cell. To accomplish these processes bacteria have evolved an arsenal of molecules that are mostly secreted by dedicated type III secretion systems, and that interact with the host, subverting normal cellular functions. Here we overview the most important molecular strategies developed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Shigella flexneri, and Yersinia enterocolitica to cause enteric infections. Despite having evolved different effectors, these four microorganisms share common host cellular targets.