title: Stress Responses, Adaptation, and Virulence of Bacterial Pathogens During Host Gastrointestinal Colonization.
abstract: Invading pathogens are exposed to a multitude of harmful conditions imposed by the host gastrointestinal tract and immune system. Bacterial defenses against these physical and chemical stresses are pivotal for successful host colonization and pathogenesis. Enteric pathogens, which are encountered due to the ingestion of or contact with contaminated foods or materials, are highly successful at surviving harsh conditions to colonize and cause the onset of host illness and disease. Pathogens such as Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and virulent strains of Escherichia have evolved elaborate defense mechanisms to adapt to the diverse range of stresses present along the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, these pathogens contain a multitude of defenses to help survive and escape from immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. This chapter focuses on characterized bacterial defenses against pH, osmotic, oxidative, and nitrosative stresses with emphasis on both the direct and indirect mechanisms that contribute to the survival of each respective stress response.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Flint
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1H 8M5.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stintzi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014774:Virulence