title: The EspF effector, a bacterial pathogen's Swiss army knife.
abstract: Central to the pathogenesis of many bacterial pathogens is the ability to deliver effector proteins directly into the cells of their eukaryotic host. EspF is one of many effector proteins exclusive to the attaching and effacing pathogen family that includes enteropathogenic (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli. Work in recent years has revealed EspF to be one of the most multifunctional effector proteins known, with defined roles in several host cellular processes, including disruption of the epithelial barrier, antiphagocytosis, microvillus effacement, host membrane remodelling, modulation of the cytoskeleton, targeting and disruption of the nucleolus, intermediate filament disruption, cell invasion, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and inhibition of several important epithelial transporters. Surprisingly, despite this high number of functions, EspF is a relatively small effector protein, and recent work has begun to decipher the molecular events that underlie its multifunctionality. This review focuses on the activities of EspF within the host cell and discusses recent findings and molecular insights relating to the virulence functions of this fascinating bacterial effector.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Microbiology Research Theme, Glasgow Biomedical Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ashleigh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mühlen
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054324:Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C489109:EspFU protein, E coli; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins