The arginine repressor ArgR controls virulence factors of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli strains

Introduction

Adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) has been related to the physiopathology of Crohn's disease, yet its pathogenic mechanisms are not completely understood. Arginine biosynthesis genes are upregulated in AIEC strains compared to non-AIEC strains present in the supernatant of infected intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting that arginine biosynthesis may be involved in AIEC pathogenicity.