Protecting the gut against Salmonella infection

Scientists found that granzymes, enzymes released by immune cells, activate multiple cell death pathways—such as apoptosis and pyroptosis—in infected cells. These distinct mechanisms work together to both kill the infected cells and remove them from the gut wall, providing robust defence against infection. By triggering several pathways, granzymes ensure that Salmonella cannot easily evade the immune response, effectively containing the pathogen's spread. This discovery underscores the complexity of the immune response and offers insights into how the body’s natural defences fight dangerous infections like Salmonella, a common cause of foodborne illness.

This research was funded by the Wellcome Trust and was published in Mucosal Immunology. The full article Distinct cell death pathways induced by granzymes collectively protect against intestinal Salmonella infection.