Mucin Dynamics and Enteric Pathogens

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Microbiol

Specialties Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Date 2011 Mar 17

PMID 21407243

Citations 614

Authors

Michael A McGuckin

Sara K Linden

Philip Sutton

Timothy H Florin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The extracellular secreted mucus and the cell surface glycocalyx prevent infection by the vast numbers of microorganisms that live in the healthy gut. Mucin glycoproteins are the major component of these barriers. In this Review, we describe the components of the secreted and cell surface mucosal barriers and the evidence that they form an effective barricade against potential pathogens. However, successful enteric pathogens have evolved strategies to circumvent these barriers. We discuss the interactions between enteric pathogens and mucins, and the mechanisms that these pathogens use to disrupt and avoid mucosal barriers. In addition, we describe dynamic alterations in the mucin barrier that are driven by host innate and adaptive immune responses to infection.

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