title: The multitalented pore-forming proteins of intracellular pathogens.
abstract: Being an intracellular pathogen demands being able to invade a host cell, to circumvent the host immune response and to survive in the intracellular environment. Pore-forming proteins are among the innumerable tools used by intracellular microorganisms to achieve these goals. Remarkably, this seems to be a multipurpose group of proteins that can act in several ways. Making channels may signify entering into host cells, inhibiting phagocytosis, escaping phagosomes or promoting pathogen dissemination. In certain cases, pore-forming proteins are double-edged tools and may benefit the host by eliminating infected cells and/or inducing inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Almeida-Campos
authors.forename: Fátima S M
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Noronha
authors.forename: M Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Horta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008954:Models, Biological; D010587:Phagocytosis; D018272:Porins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018272:Porins