What is it about?
Shigella flexneri causes infectious diarrhea by invading epithelial cells lining the colon. It was previously thought that S. flexneri does not express adherence factors, which are specialized structures that help bacteria bind to host cells. Using conditions that mimic bacterial transit through the small intestine that occurs prior to infection, we were able to detect adherence factors and identify genes required for S. flexneri to make these structures.
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Why is it important?
This work provides a new understanding of the early infection steps for S. flexneri, demonstrates that bacterial culture conditions effect the expression of virulence factors, highlights the importance of replicating gastrointestinal conditions to study pathogens like Shigella, and identifies new therapeutic targets for Shigella.
Perspectives
An image from this publication was featured as the cover image for the journal. Please see image and description at https://msphere.asm.org/content/4/6.cover-expansion
Dr. Christina S. Faherty
Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Shigella flexneri Adherence Factor Expression in In Vivo-Like Conditions, mSphere, November 2019, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00751-19.
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Resources
Mass General researchers uncover early adherence step “hidden in plain sight” in intestinal transit of Shigella pathogen
Press release highlighting the importance of this publication
mSphere Cover Image
Featured Image from the mSphere Cover highlighting the scanning electron microscopy work of this publication.
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