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Invasion of Human Cells by a Bacterial Pathogen
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Manipulation of Focal Adhesion Signaling by Pathogenic Microbes

Korinn N Murphy1,2, Amanda J Brinkworth2

  • 1School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 12, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Pathogenic microbes exploit host cell focal adhesions (FAs) to invade and survive. This review details how microbes manipulate FAs via effector proteins, impacting cell adhesion and migration.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Focal adhesions (FAs) are crucial signaling hubs connecting the cell's actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix (ECM).
  • FAs regulate essential cellular processes like adhesion and migration, and are vital for cell-ECM interactions.
  • Pathogenic microbes often target the host cell actin cytoskeleton to facilitate invasion, replication, and dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the regulatory mechanisms of host cell focal adhesions.
  • To provide examples of how pathogenic microbes exploit focal adhesions for their own benefit.
  • To highlight recent technological advances for studying microbe-FA interactions.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing literature on focal adhesion regulation and microbial manipulation.
  • It examines effector proteins secreted by pathogens that target focal adhesion components.
  • The review discusses molecular mimicry (e.g., LD motifs, VBDs) and post-translational modifications (phosphorylation, cleavage) as microbial strategies.

Main Results:

  • Pathogenic microbes have evolved sophisticated strategies to hijack host cell focal adhesions.
  • Microbial effectors mimic FA protein motifs or induce post-translational modifications to disrupt FA dynamics.
  • Exploitation of FAs aids microbial invasion, survival, and dissemination.

Conclusions:

  • Focal adhesions are key targets for pathogenic microbes seeking to manipulate host cell functions.
  • Understanding these interactions is critical for developing strategies against microbial pathogenesis.
  • Emerging technologies offer new avenues to explore the intricate mechanisms of microbe-FA co-option.
Keywords:
focal adhesionshost–pathogen interactionsintegrin signalingoutside–in signalingpathogenesisstress fibersvinculin mimetic

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