prof.D.Brendan Kenny2026-01-062026-01-06https://dspace.academy.edu.ly/handle/123456789/1877The EspA translocator protein extends the T3SS and is tipped with EspB and EspD which insert into the plasma membrane enabling effector delivery into the host cytoplasm. Two LEE effectors, Tir and EspZ, have virulence-critical functions with both inserted into the plasma membrane and linked, for Tir, as a receptor for EPEC (via Intimin) and, for EspZ, to prevent a cytotoxic response. It is controversial how Tir becomes inserted into membranes and how EspZ prevent cytotoxicity.Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) virulence depends on a Type-3 Secretion System (T3SS) that transfers many ‘effector’ proteins into human gastrointestinal cells. The components for the effector-delivery apparatus (T3SS and translocator proteins), virulence-critical surface protein (Intimin) and seven effectors (EspG, EspF, Map, EspH, EspZ, Tir, EspB; latter also a translocator) are encoded on the Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island.virulence-critical proteins of enteropathogenic