Cellular Microbiology of STEC Infections: An Overview

Cellular microbiology defines an emerging discipline that brings together the study of pathogenic microbes with eurkaryotic cell biology in order to investigate in detail the complex interactions that occur between pathogen and host during the process of disease. Over the years, we have seen the study of “cellular microbiology” move from research that was largely observational to, more recently, where microbes have become powerful tools to probe the complex molecular workings of the eukaryotic host cell (1 ). Examination of molecular mechanisms that characterize the interplay between bacteria and host cell has led to a new appreciation of microbial pathogenesis. A recurring theme that has emerged is that microorganisms have developed sophisticated mechanisms to subvert host cell signaling pathways in order to create a favorable environment for their own survival.