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How does Legionella pneumophila exit the host cell?
Maëlle Molmeret1, Yousef Abu Kwaik
1Dept of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40536-0084, USA.
Abstract:
In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in unraveling the elegant mechanisms by which intracellular pathogens invade host cells and establish intracellular infections. By contrast, our knowledge of the mechanisms of host cell cytolysis and the egress of intracellular pathogens is still in its infancy. Temporal pore-formation-mediated lysis of the host and exit by Legionella pneumophila and Leishmania could provide a new model of egress for other intracellular pathogens, many of which exhibit pore-forming or cytolysin activity
Insights
Pathogen exit strategies are poorly understood. Pore-formation-mediated host cell lysis and egress by Legionella pneumophila and Leishmania offer a novel model for pathogen exit mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Pathogenesis
Background:
- Intracellular pathogens invade host cells, establishing infections.
- Mechanisms of host cell lysis and pathogen egress remain largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of host cell cytolysis and pathogen egress.
- To explore pore-formation-mediated lysis as a potential model for pathogen exit.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Legionella pneumophila and Leishmania interactions with host cells.
- Investigation of temporal pore-formation and host cell lysis.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated temporal pore-formation leading to host cell lysis and pathogen egress.
- Identified a potential conserved mechanism for intracellular pathogen exit.
Conclusions:
- Pore-formation-mediated lysis presents a novel model for intracellular pathogen egress.
- This mechanism may be applicable to other intracellular pathogens with cytolysin activity.