Tissue Infection?

[sam2400]

Hi

Basically I would like to know how bacteria move through a tissue that they are infecting. The example I am studying is a Urinary tract infection, ( acute pyelonephritis ). Once the Bacteria, E. coli in this case, have colonised the UT and moved up into the kidneys, how do they infiltrate the tissues of the kidney. I am assuming they utilise enzymes and pili/receptors to break throught the extracellular matrix and infiltrate the kidney tissue? However I have not found any evidence for this yet and have had trouble finding any.

If anyone could provide any answers for this I would be much obliged, papers/references if possible.

Thanks

[alchilito]

Much of the tissular damage stems from inflammatory reactions triggered by microbial products like LPS, peptidoglycan, n-formyl proteins, etc. Virulence factors you mention also play a major role.