Contribution of Shigella and Escherichia coli pathogenicity islands to diarrhoeal disease

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Diarrhoea resulting from infection with Shigella and Escherichia coli is a major cause of sickness and death in the developing world, especially in children. Even in Australia, these bacteria, which may be food borne, are occasionally responsible for life threatening infections. In this study, we will investigate the contribution to diarrhoeal disease of large fragments of foreign DNA which have been recently acquired by these bacteria. We will characterise several of these elements in detail, identifying novel virulence determinants and toxins in the process. We will also explore the means by which these packages of nasty DNA transfer between bacteria and investigate their potential to give rise to new, more virulent strains of bacteria. This study is particularly significant because it will lead to an improved understanding of how bacteria cause disease and may help to guide us in developing better strategies for the prevention of bacterial diarrhoea. Specifically, the work done on characterising large clusters of virulence genes will allow us to construct safer bacterial vaccines and we expect that in the future this knowledge will contribute to the development of new and better diagnostic and therapeutic agents against these harmful bacteria.