Virulence factor  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to:
navigation, search  Virulence factors are molecules expressed
and secreted by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and
protozoa) that enable them to achieve the following:    •
colonization of a niche in the host (this includes adhesion to
cells) for example, Trimeric Autotransporter Adhesins (TAA)   •
immunoevasion, evasion of the host's immune response   •
immunosuppression, inhibition of the host's immune response   •
obtain nutrition from the host.  Virulence factors are very
often responsible for causing disease in the host because they
are often responsible for converting non-pathogenic bacteria
into dangerous pathogens. In bacteria, virulence factors are
often encoded on mobile genetic elements, such as
bacteriophages, and can easily be spread through horizontal gene
transfer. Some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, gain
the majority of their virulence from mobile genetic elements.
Strategies to target these specific virulence fac