Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
07:42
Using Fluorescent Proteins to Visualize and Quantitate Chlamydia Vacuole Growth Dynamics in Living Cells
Published on: October 13, 2015
8.0K
Chlamydia and mitochondria - an unfragmented relationship
Suvagata R Chowdhury1, Thomas Rudel1
1Department of Microbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.
Microbial Cell (Graz, Austria)
|July 15, 2017
Summary
Chlamydia trachomatis infection upregulates a host microRNA (miRNA), miR-30c-5p, to protect host cells from stress and prevent apoptosis. This finding reveals a novel host-pathogen interaction crucial for pathogen survival.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Microbiology
- Molecular biology
Background:
- Pathogen presence in eukaryotic cells triggers stress and host defense mechanisms like apoptosis.
- Obligate intracellular pathogens, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, rely on host cell survival for replication.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly recognized for their roles in apoptosis, metabolism, and pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of Chlamydia infection on the host cell's miRNA profile.
- To identify specific miRNAs involved in the host's response to Chlamydia infection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of host miRNA expression following Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
- Assessing the role of identified miRNAs in host cell stress response and apoptosis.
Main Results:
- Chlamydia infection induces upregulation of the host miRNA, miR-30c-5p (miR-30c).
- miR-30c is required by the host to mitigate stress on mitochondrial architecture caused by infection.
- Upregulation of miR-30c hinders the induction of apoptosis in infected host cells.
Conclusions:
- Chlamydia trachomatis infection manipulates host miRNA pathways to ensure its survival.
- miR-30c plays a critical role in host cell adaptation during Chlamydia infection by reducing stress and preventing apoptosis.
- This highlights a novel mechanism of host-pathogen interaction involving miRNA-mediated regulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae
668
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...
668
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
9.6K
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
9.6K
02:19Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
4.3K
A eukaryotic cell can have up to three different types of genetic systems: nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast. During evolution, organelles have exported many genes to the nucleus; this transfer is still ongoing in some plant species. Approximately 18% of the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome is thought to be derived from the chloroplast’s cyanobacterial ancestor, and around 75% of the yeast genome derived from the mitochondria’s bacterial ancestor. This export has occurred...
4.3K
01:28The Inner Mitochondrial Membrane
4.8K
The inner mitochondrial membrane is the primary site of ATP synthesis. The inner membrane domain that forms a smooth layer adjacent to the outer membrane is called the inner boundary membrane. This domain contains membrane transporters that drive metabolites in and out of the mitochondria. In contrast, the inner membrane network that invaginates into the matrix space is called the cristae membrane. This domain accounts for principle mitochondrial function as it accommodates the protein...
4.8K
01:37Mitochondria
21.0K
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
21.0K
01:45Mitochondrial Membranes
17.5K
A single mitochondrion is a bean-shaped organelle enclosed by a double-membrane system. The outer membrane of mitochondria is smooth and contains many porins - the integral membrane transporters. Porins enable free diffusion of ions and small uncharged molecules through the outer mitochondrial membrane but limit the transport of molecules larger than 5000 Daltons. Further, the outer mitochondrial membrane forms a unique structure called membrane contact sites with other subcellular organelles,...
17.5K