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Updated: Jul 14, 2025

Single Cell Measurements of Vacuolar Rupture Caused by Intracellular Pathogens
Published on: June 12, 2013
The Shigella flexneri virulence factor apyrase is released inside eukaryotic cells to hijack host cell fate
Lisa Perruzza1,2, Carlo Zagaglia3, Laura Vitiello4
1Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana , Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Importance:
In this paper, we demonstrated that apyrase is released within the host cell cytoplasm during infection to target the intracellular ATP pool. By degrading intracellular ATP, apyrase contributes to prevent caspases activation, thereby inhibiting the activation of pyroptosis in infected cells. Our results show, for the first time, that apyrase is involved in the modulation of host cell survival, thereby aiding this pathogen to dampen the inflammatory response. This work adds a further piece to the puzzle of Shigella pathogenesis. Due to its increased spread worldwide, prevention and controlling strategies are urgently needed. Overall, this study highlighted apyrase as a suitable target for an anti-virulence therapy to tackle this pathogen.
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