Pathogenic E. coli on the intestinal lining

Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) binding to human intestinal epithelium. The bacteria produce a receptor (green) which is transferred into the intestinal cell membrane where it becomes modified by tyrosine phosphorylation (blue). Intestinal cell nuclei and bacterial DNA are stained red. The bacteria appear as small red and green ovals, much smaller than the intestinal cells.