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Chlamydia and apoptosis: life and death decisions of an intracellular pathogen

Gerald I Byrne1, David M Ojcius

  • 1Department of Molecular Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 858 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. gbyrne@utmem.edu

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|September 21, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydiae are bacteria causing millions of human infections. These pathogens manipulate host cell death (apoptosis) to ensure their survival within infected cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular prokaryotic pathogens responsible for millions of annual human infections.
  • These infections affect various systems, including the eye, genital tract, respiratory tract, vasculature, and joints.
  • Chlamydiae reside within cytoplasmic vesicles in susceptible host cells like epithelial cells, endothelium, smooth muscle cells, monocytes, and macrophages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the pathogenic strategy of chlamydiae involving the modulation of programmed cell death pathways.
  • To understand how chlamydiae control host cell apoptosis to promote their survival.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of chlamydial interactions with host cells.
  • Investigation of programmed cell death (apoptosis) pathways in infected cells.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydiae modulate programmed cell death pathways in infected host cells.
  • Chlamydiae can induce apoptosis in host cells under certain conditions.
  • Chlamydiae actively inhibit apoptosis in host cells under other conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Chlamydiae employ sophisticated mechanisms to control host cell apoptosis.
  • This modulation of cell death is a key strategy for chlamydial survival and pathogenesis.
  • Successful pathogens like chlamydiae exert significant control over host cells to ensure their own propagation.

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