Virulence Factors of Salmonella Typhi

Abstract

S. Typhi is an enteric bacillus which belongs,to the genus Salmonella in the family Enterobacteriacaea and it is a multi–organs pathogen which inhibits the lymphatic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and blood stream of infected humans. S. Typhi has a mixture of features that make it an efficient pathogen. This species contains an endotoxin that is characteristic of Gram-negative organisms, as well as the virulence-enhancing Vi antigen. Many of the S. Typhi virulence factors are clustered in some areas of the chromosome known as Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI), such as adhesion, invasion, and toxin genes. A protein known as invasin that permits non-phagocytic cells is also produced and excreted by the bacterium., Where it is capable of intracellular living. The oxidative burst of leukocytes may also be inhibited, making innate immune reaction ineffective.