Ehrlichia subversion of host innate responses
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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
1Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1925 Coffey Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. rikihisa.1@osu.edu
Abstract:
Anaplasma (formerly Ehrlichia) phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, upon infection of humans, replicate in host leukocyte granulocytes and monocytes/macrophages, respectively. These unusual Gram-negative bacteria lack genes for biosynthesis of the lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan that activate host leukocytes. Caveolae-mediated endocytosis directs A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis to an intracellular compartment secluded from oxygen-dependent and -independent killing. Furthermore, these bacteria orchestrate a remarkable series of events that culminate in suppression of NADPH oxidase, phagocyte activation and differentiation pathways, apoptosis, and interferon-gamma signaling in host leukocytes. They offer a fascinating example of how pathogens employ intricate strategies to usurp and subvert host cell function.
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