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Invasion of Host Cells by Microsporidia

Bing Han1,2, Peter M Takvorian1,3, Louis M Weiss1,4

  • 1Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|March 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Microsporidia are microscopic parasites causing disease in humans, particularly those with weakened immune systems. Recent research explores how these microbes invade host cells, focusing on their spore wall and polar tube structures.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microsporidia are opportunistic pathogens infecting a wide range of hosts, including humans.
  • Microsporidiosis commonly affects immunocompromised individuals, such as those with advanced HIV, organ transplant recipients, or chemotherapy patients.
  • Infections can manifest as focal organ disease or disseminated illness, with gastrointestinal issues and wasting being frequent presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on Microsporidia.
  • To summarize findings on the composition of the Microsporidia spore wall and polar tube (PT).
  • To provide insights into the invasion mechanism of Microsporidia and the interaction of the PT and spore wall with host cells.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on Microsporidia.
  • Analysis of research on spore wall and polar tube composition.
  • Examination of studies detailing the host cell invasion mechanism.

Main Results:

  • Recent studies have elucidated the composition of the Microsporidia spore wall.
  • New information is available regarding the structure and function of the polar tube (PT).
  • Insights into the mechanism of host cell invasion by Microsporidia have been gained.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding Microsporidia spore wall and PT composition is crucial for comprehending their pathogenicity.
  • Further research into the invasion mechanism can inform therapeutic strategies against microsporidiosis.
  • This review synthesizes current knowledge on Microsporidia invasion, highlighting areas for future investigation.
Keywords:
cell–host interactioninvasion apparatusmicrosporidiapolar tubespore wallsporoplasm

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