Cellular hijacking: a common strategy for microbial infection.
Eukaryotic cells are under constant attack from microbial intruders seeking a selective advantage for survival, propagation and dissemination. Microbial infections can often result in disease and might even be lethal to the host if they are not combatted effectively. Studies of host-pathogen interactions have revealed that virulence often requires the usurpation of existing cell signaling pathways or membrane traffic machinery of the host. Such studies provide a rich source of cell biological data that will probably prove essential for future efforts designed to either thwart these attacks or learn from them.
Kahn
Richard A
RA
Dept of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. rkahn@emory.edu
Fu
Haian
H
Roy
Craig R
CR
D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D004705:Endocytosis; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D008954:Models, Biological
D004768:Enterotoxins; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases