A novel mechanism of microbial attachment: The flagellar pump of .

The ability of microbes to attach to biological and inert substrates is a necessary prerequisite for colonization of new habitats. In contrast to well-characterized mechanisms that rely on specific or nonspecific chemical interactions between microbe and substrate, we describe here an effective hydrodynamic mechanism of attachment that relies on fluid flow generated by the microbe. The microbe , a flagellated protozoan parasite, naturally attaches to the microvilliated surface of the small intestine but is also capable of attaching indiscriminately to a wide range of natural and artificial substrates.

Shiga Toxin (Stx) Type 1a and Stx2a Translocate through a Three-Layer Intestinal Model.

Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by ingested can induce hemolytic uremic syndrome after crossing the intact intestinal barrier, entering the bloodstream, and targeting endothelial cells in the kidney. The method(s) by which the toxins reach the bloodstream are not fully defined. Here, we used two polarized cell models to evaluate Stx translocation: (i) a single-layer primary colonic epithelial cell model and (ii) a three-cell-layer model with colonic epithelial cells, myofibroblasts, and colonic endothelial cells.