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Tractable Mammalian Cell Infections with Protozoan-primed Bacteria
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[The cofilin of host cell and infection--A review]

Changjian Zhang, Fangyan Chen, Li Han

    Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao = Acta Microbiologica Sinica
    |April 23, 2016
    PubMed

    Insights

    Host cell invasion by pathogens relies on actin cytoskeleton changes. Cofilin, an actin depolymerization factor, plays a crucial role in infection responses and can be modulated to inhibit pathogen entry.

    Area of Science:

    • Cellular microbiology
    • Host-pathogen interactions
    • Cytoskeletal dynamics

    Context:

    • Pathogen invasion necessitates host actin cytoskeleton rearrangement.
    • Cofilin is a key host actin depolymerization factor critical for responding to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
    • Pathogenic microbes induce biphasic remodeling of the host actin cytoskeleton.

    Purpose:

    • To review the function of host cofilin during infection.
    • To explore the regulatory mechanisms of cofilin activity in host-pathogen interactions.

    Summary:

    • Pathogen-induced infection involves biphasic remodeling of the host actin cytoskeleton.
    • Host cofilin activity, regulated by phosphorylation, is essential for the cellular response to infection.
    • Modulating host cofilin activity through genetic manipulation can inhibit pathogen invasion.

    Impact:

    • Understanding cofilin's role provides insights into host defense mechanisms against pathogens.
    • Targeting cofilin activity presents a potential strategy for developing novel anti-infective therapies.
    • This review highlights cofilin as a critical host factor in the context of infectious diseases.

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