LIVERPOOL, England, March 30 (UPI) -- British scientists say they've discovered single-cell amoeba might allow salmonella bacteria to successfully survive in the environment.
Salmonella are microscopic creatures that can contaminate nearly any food, causing diarrhea, abdominal pain and even typhoid fever, the scientists said. The bacteria have evolved unique mechanisms to prevent the body's immune system from functioning effectively but until now it wasn't understood how it survives so successfully.
Now University of Liverpool researchers, in collaboration with Britain's Institute for Animal Health, have shown salmonella use a secretion system to protect themselves inside amoeba, suggesting amoeba might be a major source of salmonella and could play a significant role in transmission of infection to man and animals.
Paul Wigley of the university's National Center for Zoonosis Research said: "We found (salmonella) uses a system which operates in the human immune system, as well as inside amoeba living in the environment. This system essentially protects salmonella within cellular compartments, called phagosomes, where it can survive and multiply.
"Its ability to survive in amoeba is a huge advantage to its continued development as it may be more resistant to disinfectants and water treatment," he added. "This means we need to work to understand ways of controlling amoeba in water supplied to animals and prevent it acting as a 'Trojan horse' for salmonella and other pathogens."
The study appears in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
