Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis
10:41

Confocal and Super-Resolution Imaging of Polarized Intracellular Trafficking and Secretion of Basement Membrane Proteins During Drosophila Oogenesis

Published on: May 19, 2022

Diverse microbial interactions with the basement membrane barrier

Lennert Steukers1, Sarah Glorieux, Annelies P Vandekerckhove

  • 1Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. lennert.steukers@ugent.be

Trends in Microbiology
|February 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pathogens must breach the basement membrane (BM) to invade hosts. Microorganisms evolve diverse strategies, including independent mechanisms or hijacking host cells, to cross this critical biological barrier.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Microorganisms encounter numerous barriers during host invasion.
  • The basement membrane (BM) is a critical physical barrier underlying epithelia and endothelia.
  • Crossing the BM is essential for pathogens to reach deeper tissues and spread.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the diverse mechanisms employed by microorganisms to breach the basement membrane.
  • To highlight the importance of the BM as a barrier in host-pathogen interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on microbial invasion strategies.
  • Analysis of pathogen-host interactions at the basement membrane level.

Main Results:

  • Pathogens utilize independent mechanisms to degrade or penetrate the BM.
  • Some pathogens hijack motile host cells (leukocytes, dendritic cells) to traverse the BM.
  • Oncogenic microorganisms may induce host cell metastasis to facilitate BM penetration.

Conclusions:

  • Successful host invasion by microorganisms often requires breaching the basement membrane.
  • Pathogens have evolved a variety of sophisticated strategies to overcome the BM barrier.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing anti-infective strategies.

More Related Videos

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen07:15

Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen

Published on: March 21, 2011

Investigation of Microbial Cooperation via Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Bacterial Colonies Grown on Agar and in Tissue During Infection09:49

Investigation of Microbial Cooperation via Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Bacterial Colonies Grown on Agar and in Tissue During Infection

Published on: November 18, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation01:26

Microbial Interactions: Cooperation

Microbial cooperation involves beneficial interactions in which different species work together for individual or mutual advantage. These interactions can profoundly influence ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, and they are essential to many pathogenic and symbiotic relationships.Nematode–Bacteria CooperationA striking example is the relationship between the Gram-negative bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila and the parasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae. Juvenile nematodes...
Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...