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Reconceptualizing the chlamydial inclusion as a pathogen-specified parasitic organelle: an expanded role for Inc

Elizabeth R Moore1, Scot P Ouellette1

  • 1Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD, USA.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|November 18, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathogen-Host Interactions

Background:

  • Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular pathogen residing within a vacuole called the chlamydial inclusion.
  • The inclusion was traditionally viewed as a parasitophorous vacuole, solely draining host cell resources.
  • Recent findings suggest host cells remain relatively healthy during Chlamydia infection, challenging this view.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new model for the chlamydial inclusion.
  • To re-evaluate the function of inclusion membrane proteins (Incs).
  • To explore the implications of this new model for understanding intracellular pathogen strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on Chlamydia-host cell interactions.
  • Analysis of the role of inclusion membrane proteins (Incs).
  • Conceptual modeling of the chlamydial inclusion as a pathogen-specified organelle.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydia actively manages host cell functions to maintain host viability.
  • Inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) are crucial for structuring the inclusion and mediating host-pathogen interactions.
  • The chlamydial inclusion can be conceptualized as a pathogen-specified parasitic organelle.

Conclusions:

  • The chlamydial inclusion functions as a dynamic, organelle-like structure that diverts host metabolites while maintaining host homeostasis.
  • Viewing the inclusion as a parasitic organelle integrates its interactions within known cellular pathways.
  • This perspective offers new insights into Chlamydia pathogenesis and can be applied to other intracellular pathogens.
Keywords:
Chlamydiainc proteininclusion membraneparasitophorous vacuolepathogen specified organelle

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