**7.2 Virulome of DAEC**

DAEC strains infect the intestinal epithelium of the host by expressing surface-exposed adhesins that mediate colonization and attachment which allow them to resist host clearance mechanisms [177]. There are several virulence factors that mediate this process, and they include fimbria or afimbrial structures, adhesins, and secretion of cytotoxic toxins that promote the invasion of the host cells (**Table 1**) [177].
