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Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic...

Colonisation of Pathogens

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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...

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Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...

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Identification of Host Pathways Targeted by Bacterial Effector Proteins using Yeast Toxicity and Suppressor Screens

Identification of Host Pathways Targeted by Bacterial Effector Proteins using Yeast Toxicity and Suppressor Screens

Published on: October 25, 2019

Host-pathogen reorganisation during host cell entry by Chlamydia trachomatis.

Andrea Nans¹, Charlotte Ford¹, Richard D Hayward¹

¹Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London & Birkbeck, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK.

Microbes and Infection

|August 31, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chlamydia trachomatis uses a type III secretion system (T3SS) to infect host cells. Recent cryo-electron tomography reveals structural details of bacterial entry and intracellular vacuole formation.

Keywords:

Chlamydia Cryo-electron tomography Cytoskeleton Entry Type III secretion

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Cell Biology
Structural Biology

Background:

Chlamydia trachomatis is a major global health concern.
Bacterial entry into host cells is crucial for infection.
Type III secretion systems (T3SS) are key virulence factors.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent cryo-electron tomography findings on Chlamydia trachomatis entry.
To elucidate the structural basis of host-pathogen interactions during infection.

Main Methods:

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)
Structural analysis of bacterial components
Host-pathogen interaction imaging

Main Results:

Detailed structure of extracellular Chlamydia elementary bodies (EBs).
Supramolecular organization of T3SS on EB surface.
Pathogen and host cell architectural changes during internalization and vacuole formation.

Conclusions:

Cryo-ET provides high-resolution insights into Chlamydia entry mechanisms.
Understanding T3SS-mediated entry can inform strategies against bacterial and viral infections.