SENSING INTIMACY

Host-pathogen cross-talk involved intricate sequence of events. Both sides have the capacity to sense each other and respond accordingly. However, how pathogens senses the host cell remain only partially understood. We investigate the host cell sensing by the food born pathogens enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC and EPEC, respectively). These pathogens colonizes the host intestine while forming intimate contact with the intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). Our results show that upon contact the bacteria specifically sense the host cell and modify in response its gene expression program. I will describe recent result addressing the recognition mechanism and consequences.