Final answer:
Salmonella Typhi can 'hide' in the human body by surviving and multiplying inside immune cells called macrophages and by using its virulence factors to evade the immune system, leading to asymptomatic carriers who can spread typhoid fever.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, Salmonella Typhi is capable of "hiding" within the human body. This bacteria, which causes typhoid fever, has evolved mechanisms to evade the immune system. It can survive and multiply inside macrophages, a type of immune cell designed to kill pathogens. S. typhi penetrate the intestinal mucosa and grow within macrophages, then spread throughout the body, notably to the liver and gallbladder. This can lead to carriers of the disease who are asymptomatic, like the famous case of "Typhoid Mary" who spread the bacteria without showing symptoms. Additionally, S. typhi have Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) that contain genes for many of their virulence factors, including the Vi antigen which helps in the production of a protective capsule around the bacteria, further helping in evading the immune response.