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. 2011 May 6:2:101.
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2011.00101. eCollection 2011.

Interaction of Salmonella spp. with the Intestinal Microbiota

Brian M M Ahmer  1 , John S Gunn
Affiliations

Interaction of Salmonella spp. with the Intestinal Microbiota

Brian M M Ahmer et al. Front Microbiol. .

Abstract

Salmonella spp. are major cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. Upon entry into the human host, Salmonella spp. must overcome the resistance to colonization mediated by the gut microbiota and the innate immune system. They successfully accomplish this by inducing inflammation and mechanisms of innate immune defense. Many models have been developed to study Salmonella spp. interaction with the microbiota that have helped to identify factors necessary to overcome colonization resistance and to mediate disease. Here we review the current state of studies into this important pathogen/microbiota/host interaction in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract.

Keywords: Salmonella; colonization resistance; microbiome; microbiota.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Salmonella spp. interaction with the intestinal microbiota. (A) The gut microbiota (illustrated by the multiple colored bacteria) mediates “colonization resistance” by outcompeting invading pathogens such as Salmonella. In addition, innate immune defenses (e.g., antimicrobial molecules, mucus, sIgA, etc.) help to prevent pathogen colonization. At the time of this initial interaction of Salmonella with the microbiota, signals produced by the host and the gut microbes are being sensed by Salmonella, which influences the pathogenic outcome. (B) Salmonella spp. are able to overcome colonization resistance and initiate localized inflammation, which is key to disease manifestation. This inflammation is a result of motile Salmonella and SPI-1-mediated invasion of M-cells in Peyer's patches and enterocytes, as well as PAMP signaling. Phagocytic cell uptake and subsequent host cell signaling results in alteration of the microbiota, further induction of host innate resistance mechanisms (to which the bacteria respond with their own induced resistance), and the increased availability of growth substrates, some which specifically allow Salmonella to outcompete the microbiota. Perturbation of the microflora (e.g., antibiotic/probiotics) also creates an altered gut environment that can affect Salmonella spp. colonization.
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