title: Switches, cross-talk and memory in Escherichia coli adherence.
abstract: Escherichia coli is a successful commensal and pathogen. Its pathogenic diversity stems from the acquisition and expression of multiple virulence-associated loci. Many of the key virulence factors are surface structures involved in adherence and motility. These are important antigens and their expression is limited by phase-variable genetic switches that are considered to act randomly. This review considers the possibility that such stochastic expression within a bacterial population belies sequential or co-ordinate control at the level of the individual bacterium. Co-ordinated expression or cross-talk between virulence loci can lead to a programmed set of events within a bacterium analogous to a simple form of electronic memory that is of benefit during infection.
authors.affiliation: Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Research Laboratory, Medical Microbiology, Teviot Place, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.affiliation: Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Research Laboratory, Medical Microbiology, Teviot Place, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gally
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors