What does this research mean for the field?

The bacterial cytotoxin EspP disrupts epithelial proliferation and induces the differentiation of enteroendocrine cells with an immune profile, driving transcriptomic changes previously attributed to whole EHEC infection. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine how acute exposure to the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli cytotoxin EspP alters epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and lineage-specific gene expression in human colonoids.

September 10, 2026Physiological Genomics

Bacterial serine protease EspP induces differentiation and expansion of enteroendocrine cells in human colonoids

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Authors

MTMyranda N. ThompsonUniversity of New Mexico RLRuixuan LiuUniversity of New Mexico CCCristina CoffmanUniversity of New Mexico

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Implication

Organoid study demonstrates bacterial toxin EspP triggers enteroendocrine cell expansion in human colonoids, highlighting epithelium-driven immune defense against bacterial pathogens.

Key Points

To determine how acute exposure to the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli cytotoxin EspP alters epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and lineage-specific gene expression in human colonoids.
Treated human colonic organoids acutely with the purified bacterial serine protease EspP in an isolated system lacking stromal, immune, and microbiota elements.
Profiled epithelial cell populations and lineage shifts using droplet-based single-cell RNA-sequencing and high-resolution clustering analysis.
EspP exposure halted epithelial proliferation and directed preferential differentiation into enteroendocrine cells, primarily enterochromaffin cells and progenitor states.
Induced enteroendocrine cells acquired an immune-active transcriptional phenotype, expressing chemokines and cytokines specialized for recruiting neutrophils and macrophages.

Cite This Study

Thompson et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27be758559d80afc7563b https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00094.2026

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Implication

Organoid study demonstrates bacterial toxin EspP triggers enteroendocrine cell expansion in human colonoids, highlighting epithelium-driven immune defense against bacterial pathogens.

Bacterial serine protease EspP induces differentiation and expansion of enteroendocrine cells in human colonoids

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Bacterial serine protease EspP induces differentiation and expansion of enteroendocrine cells in human colonoids

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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