Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) causes a dysentery syndrome clinically indistinguishable from shigellosis. The mechanism by which EIEC invades colonic epithelial cells is most similar to which organism?

• A Campylobacter jejuni
• B Salmonella Typhi
• C Vibrio cholerae
• D Shigella flexneri ✓

Explanation

EIEC invades colonic epithelial cells via a plasmid-encoded Type III secretion system, multiplies intracellularly, and spreads cell-to-cell, identical to Shigella pathogenesis. Both cause dysentery with blood and pus in stools. The ipaBCD plasmid is shared between EIEC and Shigella. Salmonella invades via M cells and survives in macrophages differently.

Reference: Jawetz, Melnick, and Adelberg's Medical Microbiology, 28th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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