Bacterial infections: new and emerging enteric pathogens.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to highlight recent advances in knowledge of bacterial enteric infections. We focus on understanding of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter jejuni infections, and to link these acute events with long-term consequences in a susceptible host, including irritable bowel syndrome and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.


RESULTS
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli and C. jejuni are zoonotic infections that are acquired from exposure to tainted food (undercooked hamburger and chicken, respectively) and contaminated drinking water. Noninvasive E. coli O157:H7 elaborates Shiga-like toxins and protein effectors that are injected, via a molecular syringe that is encoded by a bacterial type 3 secretion system, into infected eukaryotic cells. Less is known about the precise virulence properties of enteroinvasive Campylobacter strains, but both enteric pathogens are able to disrupt polarized epithelial monolayers resulting in increased uptake of macromolecules and antigens.


CONCLUSIONS
An improved understanding of the epidemiology, pathobiology and mechanisms underlying infectious enterocolitides will provide the basis for developing new intervention strategies including, for example, the use of probiotics, to interrupt the infectious process.
Sherman
Philip M
PM
Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. philip.sherman@sickkids.ca
Ossa
Juan C
JC
Wine
Eytan
E
D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004760:Enterocolitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D054324:Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis