Investigation of innate immune responses to Shigella flexneri infection

Shigellosis is a serious intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Shigella flexneri. It spreads easily and can cause bloody diarrhoea. In severe cases, it can be fatal, especially in children under five years of age. Shigella uses a syringe-like tool, called the type III secretion system, to inject proteins into gut cells and weaken the innate immune system, which provides early protection against infection. My PhD investigated how these injected proteins disrupt key immune signals. By revealing the tricks Shigella uses to hide and survive, this research helps inform future preventive and therapeutic strategies against bacteria and restore immunity.