Type III secretion à la Chlamydia.
Type III secretion (T3S) is a mechanism that is central to the biology of the Chlamydiaceae and many other pathogens whose virulence depends on the translocation of toxic effector proteins to cytosolic targets within infected eukaryotic cells. Biomathematical simulations, using a previously described model of contact-dependent, T3S-mediated chlamydial growth and late differentiation, suggest that chlamydiae contained in small non-fusogenic inclusions will persist. Here, we further discuss the model in the context of in vitro-persistent, stress-induced aberrantly enlarged forms and of recent studies using small molecule inhibitors of T3S. A general mechanism is emerging whereby both early- and mid-cycle T3S-mediated activities and late T3S inactivation upon detachment of chlamydiae from the inclusion membrane are crucial for chlamydial intracellular development.
Peters
Jan
J
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Wilson
David P
DP
Myers
Garry
G
Timms
Peter
P
Bavoil
Patrik M
PM
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002689:Chlamydia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D005810:Multigene Family; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C460868:IncA protein, Chlamydia trachomatis; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors