Adaptation of Legionella pneumophila to the host environment: role of protein secretion, effectors and eukaryotic-like proteins.
The intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila has evolved sophisticated mechanisms that enable it to subvert host functions, enter, survive and replicate in amoebae or alveolar macrophages, and to finally evade these hosts. Protozoa are essential for the growth of Legionella and the interaction with amoeba seems to be the driving force in the evolution of its pathogenicity. This is reflected in the genome of this pathogen, which encodes a high number and variety of eukaryotic-like proteins that are able to interfere in the various steps of the infectious cycle by mimicking functions of eukaryotic proteins. Central to the pathogenicity of L. pneumophila are the many secretion systems delivering these and other effectors to the host cell. Recent studies have highlighted the multi-functional role of these factors secreted by L. pneumophila, in host-pathogen interactions.
Brüggemann
Holger
H
Unité de Génomique des Microorganismes Pathogènes and CNRS URA 2171, Institut Pasteur, 28 Rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris, France.
Cazalet
Christel
C
Buchrieser
Carmen
C
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000656:Amoeba / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000382:microbiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000382:microbiology*; D018716:Molecular Mimicry; D021381:Protein Transport; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors