Pathogen maintenance in the host population by vertical transmission: the mechanisme of gonad colonization and persistency in pigeon restricted Salmonella serovar Typhimurium strains Ghent University
Pigeon derived Salmonella Typhimurium strains are highly host specific. Host specificity is characterized by a marked association of the bacterium with the host reproductive tract, enabling vertical transmission and thus maintenance of the pathogen in the host population. In this project, we will unravel the mechanism used by Salmonella Typhimurium to colonize the pigeon gonads.