Hierarchies of host factor dynamics at the entry site of Shigella flexneri during host cell invasion
Technologies: QuickPALM
Paper published in Infection and immunity, January 2012
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology 1752 N St., NW, Washington, DC
The manuscript by Ehsani et al. (2012) explores the dynamics of host factor recruitment during Shigella flexneri entry into epithelial cells. Using time lapse microscopy, the study reveals the simultaneous recruitment of host small GTPases and kinases to the bacterial entry site within 200 to 400 seconds. Actin is also implicated in the process. The vacuolar membranes disassemble rapidly, with galectin 3 being recruited to the ruptured membranes and targeted to autophagy. Some bacteria remain vacuole-bound and may be targeted to the autophagy pathway. The findings suggest that the entry process of Shigella flexneri is coordinated by the precise recruitment and dispersal of host factors, and the study proposes that future investigations should focus on the implications of kinetic effects and the use of time lapse techniques. The manuscript acknowledges the contributions of various researchers and funding agencies.