ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by Shigella in relation to their etiology, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. The gene silencing-based approach to assess the involvement of host factors in the Shigella vacuolar escape mechanism proposed that endocytic and recycling pathways are involved in Shigella invasion. The investigations on the early stage of infection may provide new perceptions to explain the epidemiological observations of Shigella infection and outbreaks. The changes in the epidemiology and evolution of resistant strains of Shigella indicate the need for further elucidation of their virulence machineries and pathogenesis. Microbial pathogenesis is regulated by several effectors, including riboregulators. Several intestinal complications, and systemic complications are reported during Shigella infection. As one of the noticeable strict human pathovars of E. coli, Shigella consists of four recognized species and is responsible for deadly bacillary dysentery in human populations.
