title: Microbial pathogenesis and cytoskeletal function.
abstract: Pathogenic microbes subvert normal host-cell processes to create a specialized niche, which enhances their survival. A common and recurring target of pathogens is the host cell's cytoskeleton, which is utilized by these microbes for purposes that include attachment, entry into cells, movement within and between cells, vacuole formation and remodelling, and avoidance of phagocytosis. Our increased understanding of these processes in recent years has not only contributed to a greater comprehension of the molecular causes of infectious diseases, but has also revealed fundamental insights into normal functions of the cytoskeleton. From the use of bacterial toxins to investigate Rho family GTPases to in vitro studies of actin polymerization using Listeria and Shigella, the study of pathogenesis has provided important tools to probe cytoskeletal function.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Z3.
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gruenheid
authors.forename: B Brett
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Finlay
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000382:microbiology; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins