Virginia Tech researchers have learned how bacteria manipulate molecules to infect the host organism. Daniel Capelluto and his research team have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterial pathogen Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of dysentery, manipulates molecular activity to assure its survival against its host's natural defenses.

Their findings were recently published in the journal Structure.

"This infection strategy may be employed by other bacteria, making this research a potential foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying various bacterial infections," said Capelluto, associate professor of biological sciences.

By understanding the specific manner in which a typical bacterium progresses, researchers can more precisely target preventive measures that will interrupt that process.

To survive, bacteria infect a host by replicating themselves, infecting cells, and then exiting those infected cells. A typical example of this process is seen in Shigella flexneri, a bacterium transmitted through contaminated water or food and that targets the intestinal lining.

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