Edwardsiella tarda - virulence mechanisms of an emerging gastroenteritis pathogen.

Human Edwardsiella tarda infections often manifest as gastroenteritis, but can become systemic and potentially lethal. E. tarda uses virulence factors that include type III and type VI secretion systems, quorum sensing, two-component systems, and exoenzymes to gain entry into and survive within the host. Better understanding of interactions between these factors will lead to the development of novel antimicrobials against E. tarda and other enterics.