Genetic Determinants of Virulence in Shigella and Dysenteric Strains of Escherichia coli: Their Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Dysentery

摘要

Genetic analyses of Shigella have helped to provide insight into the gross pathobiology of shigellosis without yet defining the specific biochemical events involved. There have been several excellent general reviews of shigellosis (e.g. DUPONT and PICKERING 1980; HORNICK 1978) as well as brief reviews directed at genetic studies of Shigella virulence (GEMSKI and FORMAL 1975; PETRO SKAYA and LICHEVA 1982). However, recent advances in the genetic analysis of Shigella now allow for a better definition of the disease process. Thus, this review is aimed at summarizing our current genetic understanding of Shigella virulence; due to space limitations, only representative references/example have been included. For a better appreciation of the genetic data, however, we feel it is appropriate first to define dysentery as compared with other common acuteintestinal disease mechanisms and to discuss Shigella virulence assay systems briefly.