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High-Throughput Transcriptome Analysis for Investigating Host-Pathogen Interactions
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Pathogens hijack the epigenome: a new twist on host-pathogen interactions
Natalie C Silmon de Monerri1, Kami Kim1
1Departments of Medicine, Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
The American Journal of Pathology
|February 15, 2014
Summary
Pathogens alter host cells by targeting epigenetic regulators, influencing gene expression. These pathogen-induced epigenetic modifications can lead to long-term changes, impacting disease and pathogen persistence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epigenetics
- Host-Pathogen Interactions
Background:
- Pathogens manipulate host cells to survive, altering gene and protein expression.
- Pathogen effectors are key mediators of these host cell modifications.
- Emerging research focuses on epigenetic regulators as pathogen targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how pathogens modulate host cell epigenomes.
- To highlight the significance of epigenetic modifications in host-pathogen interactions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on pathogen-mediated epigenetic alterations.
- Analysis of mechanisms by which pathogens target host chromatin and epigenetic regulators.
Main Results:
- Pathogens utilize diverse strategies, including cytoplasmic signaling, effector proteins, and RNA, to modify host epigenomes.
- While some epigenetic changes are transient, others are long-term and heritable.
- These modifications are crucial for pathogenesis and pathogen persistence.
Conclusions:
- Pathogen modulation of the host epigenome is a critical and expanding area of research.
- Understanding these interactions is vital for developing strategies against infectious diseases.
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