In: Biology
Shigella is a group of bacteria which causes an infectious disease called Shigellosis. The primary symptoms of shigellosis includes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria.They usually resolves in 5 to 7 days.
The Shigella bacterium is spread through contaminated water and food or through contact with contaminated feces.
How it evades the immune system?
The bacteria release toxins that irritate the intestines. Immunity to Shigella is characterized by a humoral response against the LPS O-antigen and some other bacterial molecules such as the Invasion plasmid Antigens.
Shigella can mediate the cell death of macrophages to further evade the host's immune system.The strains of Shigella produces a toxin which can contribute to disease during infection.Such species invade the host through the M-cells.