Sequential invasion of epithelial and immune cells in Shigellosis
Shigella flexneri, the agent of shigellosis, invades the colonic mucosa, which leads to mucosal erosion, blood and immune cell infiltration, culminating in the hallmark of the disease, bloody diarrhea. Here, we conducted a microscopy-based analysis of time-resolved infection experiments in the infant rabbit model of shigellosis. We observed two stages of infection in the colonic tissue. During…
Shigellosis, caused by the bacterium Shigella flexneri, begins with invasion of the colonic mucosa. This results in mucosal erosion, the presence of blood, and infiltration of immune cells leading to the characteristic bloody diarrhea of the disease. To understand the infection process better, researchers conducted microscopy-based experiments on the infant rabbit model of shigellosis.
Their analysis revealed two distinct stages of infection within the colonic tissue. In the early stage, the bacteria infiltrated and propagated within the epithelial cells, causing erosion of the mucosa and attracting blood cells to the area. In the late stage, the bacteria shifted from their initial location, the epithelial compartment, to the secondary location, the lamina propria.
By analyzing the genetic activity of cells during the late stage, the researchers identified the various types of epithelial, immune, and stromal cells present. The vast majority of the bacteria were found to associate with neutrophils or macrophages during this late stage. Drawing comparisons, the researchers also discussed how their findings contrast with previously proposed models of shigellosis.
Written by urgent.news from bioRxiv's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
