title: Introduction to Type III Secretion Systems.
abstract: Type III secretion (T3S) systems are found in a large number of gram-negative bacteria where they function to manipulate the biology of infected hosts. Hosts targeted by T3S systems are widely distributed in nature and are represented by animals and plants. T3S systems are found in diverse genera of bacteria and they share a common core structure and function. Effector proteins are delivered by T3S systems into targeted host cells without prior secretion of the effectors into the environment. Instead, an assembled translocon structure functions to translocate effectors across eukaryotic cell membranes. In many cases, T3S systems are essential virulence factors and in some instances they promote symbiotic interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA. danielle.condry@med.und.edu.
authors.forename: Danielle L Jessen
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Condry
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Nilles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000502:physiology*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D000069296:Type III Secretion Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000069296:Type III Secretion Systems; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Effector proteins; Injectisomes; Translocon; Type III secretion system; Virulence factor