Sneaking Past Security

Our intestine wall is made up of two types of cells – cells covered in finger-like villi which specialise in absorption, and smooth cells which shuttle microbes across the gut lining to be dealt with by our immune system. These smooth cells are a bit like security guards, keeping an eye out for any trouble. However, several pathogens are known to exploit them, hitching a ride for an easy way to infect and colonise tissues. Food-poisoning bacteria Salmonella typhimurium, (pictured in yellow) go one step further – they secrete a protein which changes villi-covered cells into transporter cells, making it even easier for them to infect the host. Here, just 120 minutes after infection, is a cell mid-way through the transition with just a few villi left. Understanding this interaction could help in developing oral vaccines which are taken up by the transporter cells.

Written by Sarah McLusky

Sarah McLusky

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Sarah McLusky is a freelance science education consultant. Her work varies from writing resources and managing science fairs to making rockets. Sarah used to be a ‘proper’ scientist and has a PhD in Plant Biochemistry.

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• Arvind Mahajan
• The Roslin Institute (University of Edinburgh), UK
• Copyright Elsevier 2012
• Published in Cell Host & Microbe 12(5): 645-656