Bacterial infections of the small intestine and colon

Abstract

Recent research into the pathogenesis of bacterial infections of the intestinal tract has revealed tantalizing new information on the origins of bacterial virulence. The strategies employed by different bacterial species to colonize or invade the intestinal epithelium and cause diarrhea may follow broadly similar patterns but differ in detail. Knowledge of bacterial virulence mechanisms is being exploited to develop novel rationally attenuated vaccines and treatment modalities, which, although still at an early stage of development, offer the promise of improved control of enteric infections in the future.