title: Molecular and cell biology of Legionella pneumophila.
abstract: Legionella pneumophila is a facultative intracellular pathogen that can replicate within phagocytic host cells such as protozoa and macrophages. Evasion of phagocytic killing is mediated by the type IV Dot/Icm secretion system, which exports bacterial effectors that modulate biogenesis of the phagosome to evade endocytic fusion and also to intercept vesicles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. Bacterial replication is associated with activation of caspase-3 in infected macrophages and is culminated in apoptosis and pore formation-mediated cytolysis of the host.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Dina M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.forename: Maëlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molmeret
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abu Kwaik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases