Open AccessHere, there, and everywhere: How pathogenic Escherichia coli sense and respond to gastrointestinal biogeography
Author(s) -
Woodward Sarah E.,
Krekhno Zakhar,
Finlay B. Brett
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/cmi.13107
Subject(s) - citrobacter rodentium , biology , colonisation , microbiology and biotechnology , enteropathogenic escherichia coli , effector , secretion , pathogen , gastrointestinal tract , host (biology) , type three secretion system , citrobacter , escherichia coli , pathogenicity island , enterobacteriaceae , virulence , salmonella , bacteria , colonization , immunology , ecology , genetics , gene , biochemistry
Gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC), and related mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium , are referred to as attaching and effacing (AE) pathogens for the lesions they form upon colonisation of the host epithelium. EPEC, EHEC, and C. rodentium are well known to use a type III secretion system to intimately attach to intestinal cells and secrete bacterial effectors to manipulate host cell processes. Less well known is the ability of AE pathogens to overcome significant physiological and microbial barriers and target specific gut niches for initial colonisation of the host epithelium. This review considers recent work highlighting the biogeography of the GI tract as it applies to colonisation by enteric pathogens, including environmental barriers to enteric infection, signals sensed by AE pathogens for navigation of the GI tract, and the tools AE pathogens use to respond to the changing host environment.