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Updated: May 2, 2026
High-throughput Fluorometric Measurement of Potential Soil Extracellular Enzyme Activities
Published on: November 15, 2013
[Not Available]
1Freie Universität, Berlin, DE.
Abstract:
The entry of pathogenic bacteria into host cells is an important step in the induction and progression of many infectious diseases. It confers several advantages to the microorganism during pathogenesis. Intracellular bacteria are protected from the host immune response and the action of antibiotics. Furthermore, pathogens can use the invasion process to transmigrate through epithelial layers and colonize deeper host tissue and organs. To promote cell entry, the bacteria synthesize various surface molecules, called invasins, with which they tightly adhere to eukaryotic cell receptors. This interaction induces signal transduction pathways in the host cell cytoplasm that can lead to dramatic rearrangements of the cytoskeleton, i.e. actin filament nucleation. This modulation results in the formation of pseudopods or membrane ruffles which enclose the bacteria inside the cell.
Insights
Pathogenic bacteria invade host cells using invasins to trigger cytoskeleton rearrangements, enabling intracellular survival and disease progression. This bacterial entry mechanism aids immune evasion and antibiotic resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Cell Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Bacterial entry into host cells is crucial for infectious disease development.
- Intracellular bacteria evade host immunity and antibiotic treatments.
- Pathogens exploit invasion to spread through tissues.
Purpose:
- To explain the mechanism of pathogenic bacterial invasion into host cells.
- To highlight the role of bacterial invasins and host cell receptors.
- To describe the host cell's cytoskeletal response during bacterial entry.
Summary:
- Pathogenic bacteria utilize surface molecules called invasins to adhere to host cell receptors.
- This adhesion triggers host cell signaling pathways, leading to actin cytoskeleton rearrangements.
- The host cell forms pseudopods or membrane ruffles, engulfing the bacteria intracellularly.
Impact:
- Understanding bacterial invasion mechanisms is key to developing new anti-infective strategies.
- This process facilitates pathogen survival, colonization, and dissemination within the host.
- Targeting bacterial invasins or host cell signaling could disrupt infection pathways.
