M cells and the pathogenesis of mucosal and systemic infections.
M cells are specialized epithelial cells of mucosal surfaces lining the respiratory and intestinal tracts. They participate in generating mucosal immune protection by sampling and delivering antigens to the underlying lymphoid tissue. A variety of viral, bacterial and protozoal pathogens exploit the M cell transport pathway to breach mucosal barriers and establish local or systemic infections.
Siebers
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Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Finlay
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D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000276:immunology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology