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Subversion of phagocytosis for pathogen survival

Helen Sarantis1, Sergio Grinstein

  • 1Cell Biology Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.

Cell Host & Microbe
|October 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pathogens evade immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages using sophisticated strategies. Some impair phagocytosis, while others exploit it to invade host cells for survival and spread.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Professional phagocytes, including neutrophils and macrophages, are crucial for eliminating invading microorganisms.
  • Pathogens have evolved diverse countermeasures to evade or subvert phagocytosis.
  • Some pathogens utilize host cell entry mechanisms for replication and dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the fundamental aspects of the phagocytic process.
  • To describe pathogen strategies for evading or hijacking phagocytosis.
  • To explain how pathogens establish intracellular niches for survival and spread.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on phagocytosis and pathogen-host interactions.
  • Categorization of pathogen evasion and exploitation strategies.
  • Synthesis of information on molecular mechanisms involved.

Main Results:

  • Pathogens employ tactics to avoid detection, disrupt signaling, or inhibit phagocytic machinery.
  • Certain pathogens mimic or co-opt host phagocytic components to facilitate entry.
  • Intracellular survival and spread are facilitated by pathogen-mediated host cell manipulation.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding pathogen strategies is key to developing new therapeutic interventions.
  • Pathogen manipulation of phagocytosis represents a critical aspect of host-pathogen dynamics.
  • Targeting these pathogen mechanisms could disrupt infection cycles.

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