**2. Virulence determinants involved in** *Salmonella* **pathogenesis**

#### **2.1 Attachment**

In a majority of cases, infection occurs following ingestion of *Salmonella* by the host. Before *Salmonella* can gain entry into the epithelial cell lining the host's gut mucosa, it first needs to attach to the cell. NTS attachment is facilitated by fimbriae, non-fimbriae factors of autotransporter and outer-membrane proteins, which serve as adhesions; up to 20 adhesion molecules have been described so far and it has been demonstrated that the entire adhesiome of *S. enterica* serotype Typhimurium can be expressed [15], which facilitates understanding such a large repertoire of adhesions

contributing to colonization of a broad range of host species and adaptation to various environment within the host.
