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Pathogenic strategies of enteric bacteria

Nature volume 406, pages 768–774 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Enteric bacteria use a limited array of macromolecular systems to implement diverse pathogenic strategies. The cellular targets of several enteric virulence factors have recently been identified. The themes that have emerged from these studies include the exploitation of molecules that regulate the actin cytoskeleton and the activation of apoptotic pathways to serve the pathogen.

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Figure 1: Macromolecular systems for type IV pilus, type II secretion and type III secretion.
Figure 2: Acquisition of virulence factors by V. cholerae. Infection with TCPφ (blue) was a critical step in the evolution of virulence by non-pathogenic strains of V. cholerae.
Figure 3: Exploitation of actin polymerization machinery by enteric pathogens.
Figure 4: Enteric pathogens target the cytoskeleton to induce their uptake into epithelial cells.
Figure 5: Strategies used by enteric bacteria to foil macrophages.

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Acknowledgements

I thank J. B. Kaper for critically reviewing the manuscript. The author's work is supported by Public Health Service awards from the National Institutes of Health.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland, 10 South Pine Street, Baltimore, 21201, Maryland, USA

    Michael S. Donnenberg

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Donnenberg, M. Pathogenic strategies of enteric bacteria. Nature 406, 768–774 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35021212

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