How intestinal bacteria cause disease

An improved understanding of how intestinal bacteria cause disease has beco me increasingly important because of the emergence of new enteric pathogens , increasing threats of drug resistance, and a growing awareness of their i mportance in malnutrition and diarrhea. Reviewed here are the varied ways t hat intestinal bacteria cause disease, which provide fundamental lessons ab out microbial pathogenesis as well as cell signaling. Following colonizatio n, enteric pathogens may adhere to or invade the epithelium or may produce secretory exotoxins or cytotoxins. In addition, by direct or indirect effec ts, they may trigger secondary mediator release of cytokines that attract i nflammatory cells, which release further products, such as prostaglandins o r platelet-activating factor, which can also trigger secretion. An improved understanding of pathogenesis not only opens new approaches to treatment a nd control but may also suggest improved simple means of diagnosis and even vaccine development.