Salmonella detection by human epithelial type-2 cell

Salmonella, or salmonellosis, is a well-known foodborne disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella. Over 2500 species of Salmonella have been discovered worldwide. Almost all species are pathogenic, causing illnesses varying in severity from diarhoea to typhoid fever. One species, Salmonella typhimurium, is shown in this image. S. typhimurium causes symptoms including stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting and nausea, and if left untreated, death in the young, elderly and immunocompromised. To clear a Salmonella typhimurium infection the human epithelial type 2 (Hep-2) first makes specific contacts via extended hair-like projections of the cell (filopodia), as shown in this image. Once initial sensing has been established lamellipodia, sheet-like cell growths, will push out to form a phagocytic cup and engulf the pathogen. S. typhimurium length is approximately 2-3 micrometers.