Salmonella: Mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity involved in outcomes of infection

The increasing rise in the cases of Salmonella infections is a major concern worldwide.The causative agent of Salmonella infection is a bacillus bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Salmonella infection leads to clinical manifestations of enteric fever, gastroenteritis or food poisoning and septicemia. Its amazing capacity to evolve and its diverse mechanisms to invade the host immune system is widely researched and studied by many groups of researchers. The bug still enjoys the secret protocol of invading, replicating and spreading in the host system. Microorganisms are equipped with plethora of arsenals which they attain through mutations and modifications of their genetic material, which are used against the host defense system. The modus operandi involves expression of series of genes or gene cassette in a dramatic cascade fashion, which are known as the zenith points of its mechanism of infection. This helps them in proliferation and distribution in the host with minimal damage to themselves. This review touches upon some of the most important factors responsible for virulence and their mechanism which results in successful infection in host. Understanding the different mechanisms and genes involved in expression of the virulence factors can help in designing drug compounds that can target these vulnerable genes and hamper the process of infection. The review also overviews some of the prospective essential genes which can be targeted for drug development. The conserved genes responsible forinfection are usually essential for the bacterium and can act as good drug targets. Thorough understanding and determination of gene essentiality can boost the drug pipeline against the bacterium.

Keywords:

Salmonella , Infection , Enterobacteriaceae , Proliferation , Virulence , Bacterium