Bacterial invasion by a paracellular route: divide and conquer.
The epithelium of the host plays an important first line of defense against most human pathogens. Microbial factors have been identified that are involved in the destruction of the structures that maintain the integrity of the epithelium. The mechanisms used by several, selected bacteria for the disruption of epithelial cell-cell junctions are discussed.
Balkovetz
Daniel F
DF
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. balkovet@uab.edu
Katz
Jannet
J
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000382:microbiology*
D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules