Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

A Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell-based Model of the Human Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier to Study Bacterial Infection from the Basolateral Side
09:58

A Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cell-based Model of the Human Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier to Study Bacterial Infection from the Basolateral Side

Published on: May 6, 2016

Host membranes provide hidden gateways for 'accidental pathogens'

Mathieu Coureuil1, Stefano Marullo2

  • 1Université Paris Cité, INSERM U1151, CNRS UMR8253, Institut Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris F-75015, France.

Trends in Microbiology
|July 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Host plasma membranes, not microbial evolution, often drive human infections. Membrane properties like deformation and curvature sensing facilitate bacterial adhesion and entry into host cells.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions

Background:

  • Human infections frequently arise from unintended interactions between hosts and pathogens.
  • Microbial adaptation is not always the primary driver of host colonization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the role of intrinsic host plasma membrane properties in bacterial adhesion and entry.
  • To explain how cellular membrane characteristics support pathogen invasion.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on host-pathogen interactions.
  • Analysis of biophysical properties of the plasma membrane.
  • Examination of bacterial adhesion and entry mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Host plasma membrane properties, including deformation and curvature sensing, are crucial for bacterial processes.
  • Receptor enrichment and membrane reservoirs on the host cell surface facilitate pathogen interaction.
  • These intrinsic membrane features support diverse bacterial adhesion and entry mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • The biophysical characteristics of the host plasma membrane play a significant role in initiating human infections.
  • Understanding these host factors is key to comprehending host-pathogen dynamics.
  • Focusing on host cell properties offers insights into preventing pathogen entry.

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