Definition of intracellular pathogens

Evolution of intracellular pathogens.

The evolution of intracellular pathogens is considered in the context of ambiguities in basic definitions and the diversity of host-microbe interactions. Intracellular pathogenesis is a subset of a larger world of host-microbe interactions that includes amoeboid predation and endosymbiotic existence. Intracellular pathogens often reveal genome reduction. Despite the uniqueness of each host-micr...

Intracellular pathogens under attack

T he immune system provides a formidable barrier that prevents us from being overwhelmed by the numerous microbial pathogens that we encounter every day. However, many pathogens manage to escape the immune system by invading cells and replicating within them. To counter these pathogens immune cells produce a powerful cytokine called interferon-g that reprograms the invaded cells to express hund...

Remodeling schemes of intracellular pathogens.

Rab32 restriction of intracellular bacterial pathogens.

Our immune system is engaged in a continuous battle against invading pathogens, many of which have evolved to survive in intracellular niches of mammalian hosts. A variety of cellular processes are involved in preventing bacterial invasion or in killing bacteria that successfully invade host cells. Recently, the Rab GTPase Rab32 emerged as critical regulator of a host defense pathway that can e...

Survival of Intracellular Pathogens within Macrophages

Reactive oxygen metabolites produced during phagocytosis are important for the microbicidal activity of granulocytes and probably of monocytes as well (1, 2). Although the role of reactive oxygen metabolites in the microbicidal activity of macrophages is not established, recent studies (3-6) suggest that they may be important because activated macrophages that exhibit enhanced antimicrobial act...