Manipulation of epithelial cell death pathways by Shigella

Shigella, a major cause of bacterial dysentery, knows when it is not wanted. To generate and maintain its niche within host cells, this unwelcome guest injects several dozen virulence factors via a type 3 secretion system (T3SS). In this issue, Ashida et al (2020) have elucidated the role of two such factors from Shigella flexneri —OspC1 and OspD3—that together counteract apoptotic and necroptotic death pathways in colonised epithelial cells. As a result, Shigella can replicate to high levels within the colonic epithelium, leading to the substantial epithelial damage in shigellosis and efficient bacterial release for faecal transmission.