In order for bacteria to cause a disease, it has to adhere to the surface of the host cells, but adherence of bacterial cells to the intestinal cells is not a simple feat because the surfaces of both the microbe and the host are negatively charged (electrostatic repulsion). Bacteria causing cholera (Vibrio cholerae) has a special pili (depicted as hands in gloves). TcpA) (glycoprotein
On another end of bacterial cell the cholera toxin (Ctx) being released on a neighboring cell, Ctx penetrates the host cell and induces the increase in cyclic-AMP and cyclic-GMP. Both reduce the absorption of sodium ions and increase the secretion of chloride ions. The accumulation of slat ions (NaCl) in the lumen of the large intestine leads to a watery diarrhea (rice water). Which in some places will lead to infection of other individuals when poorly disposed sewage meets drinking water. d. zaitsev
