Emerging intracellular bacterial infections.
Human infections by intracellular bacteria have been recognized for many years, but much of what we know about the pathogenesis of these diseases and their etiologic organisms has emerged within the past few years as a result of improved molecular-based means for their detection and classification. New insights concerning the epidemiology and pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial infections and methods for the detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Rickettsia species have made an impact on how we view them as agents of human disease. Emerging evidence suggesting a possible intracellular existence for another organism, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, may explain how this organism interacts with the host to induce chronic inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract.
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249, USA.
Brenda
B
Katz
Ken
K
Waites
D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission