Transcripts
DR. LINGWOOD:
This
is a slide borrowed from Brett Finlay in
Vancouver showing the bacteria on top of this
pedestal which is full of actin. So there's
actin polymerized within this pedestal and
there's a complex mechanism of molecular events
that result in this.
But one of the things that it
might well do is permit the direct passage of
the verotoxin through this intimate contact,
here. And also this kind of interaction
compromises the barrier function of the cells.
The cells become less well tucked together. So
it might actually allow the passage of toxin
between cells. These are all unknown factors,
but it's a fascinating property.
But not all bacteria that cause
HUS will do this. So it's not obligatory, but
may be a risk factor.
I told you one of the initial
factors that the bacteria attach to; it's called
the bundle forming pillus attaches down on the
epithelial cell. And we've shown that the
intact organism, and also the bundle forming
pilus itself binds to this structure, here.
The method's called TLC, where we separate
species on this plate, the lipids migrate and
separate up the plate, and then we overlay with
whatever we choose and see where it binds.
