Emerging Themes in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
J Infect Dis
; 224(12 Suppl 2): S813-S820, 2021 12 20.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34273153
ABSTRACT
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are ubiquitous diarrheal pathogens that thrive in areas lacking basic human needs of clean water and sanitation. These genetically plastic organisms cause tremendous morbidity among disadvantaged young children, in the form of both acute diarrheal illness and sequelae of malnutrition and growth impairment. The recent discovery of additional plasmid-encoded virulence factors and elucidation of their critical role in the molecular pathogenesis of ETEC may inform new approaches to the development of broadly protective vaccines. Although the pathogens have been closely linked epidemiologically with nondiarrheal sequelae, these conditions remain very poorly understood. Similarly, while canonical effects of ETEC toxins on cellular signaling promoting diarrhea are clear, emerging data suggest that these toxins may also drive changes in intestinal architecture and associated sequelae. Elucidation of molecular events underlying these changes could inform optimal approaches to vaccines that prevent acute diarrhea and ETEC-associated sequelae.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Escherichia coli Vaccines
/
Escherichia coli Proteins
/
Diarrhea
/
Escherichia coli Infections
/
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Type of study:
Etiology_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
J Infect Dis
Year:
2021
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States