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Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
07:15

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Published on: March 21, 2011

Invasion of the central nervous system by intracellular bacteria

Douglas A Drevets1, Pieter J M Leenen, Ronald A Greenfield

  • 1Department of Medicine, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA. douglas-drevets@ouhsc.edu

Clinical Microbiology Reviews
|April 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Intracellular bacteria can infect the central nervous system (CNS) through various mechanisms. This review details how these pathogens, like Listeria monocytogenes, invade the CNS, aiding in understanding neuroinvasion.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) infections by intracellular pathogens are severe and often fatal.
  • Mechanisms of CNS invasion by intracellular bacteria are less understood than extracellular pathogens.
  • Pathogens include Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucella, Salmonella, Rickettsiaceae, and Tropheryma whipplei.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which intracellular bacterial pathogens establish CNS infections.
  • To elucidate the routes of neuroinvasion used by these microbes.
  • To consolidate clinical, pathological, and experimental findings on CNS infection by intracellular bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical and pathological findings in human CNS infections.
  • Analysis of experimental data from animal models of neuroinvasion.
  • Focus on Listeria monocytogenes as a model organism for studying neuroinvasion mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Intracellular bacterial pathogens utilize diverse strategies to enter the CNS.
  • Listeria monocytogenes demonstrates multiple pathways for CNS invasion, serving as a key model.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.

Conclusions:

  • Intracellular bacterial pathogens pose a significant threat to the CNS.
  • Multiple invasion routes exist, with L. monocytogenes offering valuable insights.
  • Further research into these mechanisms is essential for combating CNS infections.

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