Molecular Mechanisms of Host Cytoskeletal Rearrangements by Shigella Invasins

Abstract

Pathogen-induced reorganization of the host cell cytoskeleton is a common strategy utilized in host cell invasion by many facultative intracellular bacteria, such as <em>Shigella, Listeria,</em> enteroinvasive <em>E. coli</em> and <em>Salmonella. Shigella </em>is an enteroinvasive intracellular pathogen that preferentially infects human epithelial cells and causes bacillary dysentery. Invasion of <em>Shigella </em>into intestinal epithelial cells requires extensive remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton with the aid of pathogenic effector proteins injected into the host cell by the activity of the type III secretion system. These so-called <em>Shigella</em> invasins, including IpaA, IpaC, IpgB1, IpgB2 and IpgD, modulate the actin-regulatory system in a concerted manner to guarantee efficient entry of the bacteria into host cells.