Targeting the Mucosal Barrier: How Pathogens Modulate the Cellular Polarity Network.
Travis R Ruch1, Joanne N Engel1,2
1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|February 15, 2017
Summary
Human pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Helicobacter pylori, and Neisseria meningitidis disrupt host cell polarity. This review details how these mucosal pathogens exploit the epithelial barrier for infection.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- The mucosal barrier, formed by polarized epithelial cells, is crucial for defense against pathogens.
- Cell polarity proteins are essential for maintaining this barrier's integrity.
- Pathogens have evolved strategies to disrupt host cell polarity for colonization and invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in understanding how pathogens subvert host cell polarization.
- To compare and contrast the mechanisms used by three key mucosal pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Helicobacter pylori, and Neisseria meningitidis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent scientific publications.
- Comparative analysis of pathogen virulence strategies targeting host cell polarity.
Main Results:
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Helicobacter pylori, and Neisseria meningitidis all target host cell polarity proteins.
- Pathogens utilize distinct mechanisms to disrupt tight junctions, alter cell surface receptors, and facilitate invasion or immune evasion.
- Subversion of polarity aids in pathogen binding, replication, transcytosis, and barrier disruption.
Conclusions:
- Understanding pathogen-induced polarity disruption is key to developing new therapeutic strategies.
- Targeting the host cell polarity network represents a common theme in mucosal pathogen infection.
- Further research into these interactions can reveal novel vulnerabilities for therapeutic intervention.
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