The role of protein secretion systems in the virulence of the intracellular pathogen Legionella pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogen, which multiplies in protozoa in its natural environment and can cause Legionnaires' disease in man, following infection of alveolar macrophages. In each of the different stages of infection of host cells, virulence proteins need to be delivered to their specific place of action and therefore must cross two barriers: the inner and the outer membrane. To date, several specialized secretion machineries for transport of proteins across the inner and outer membrane have been identified in L. pneumophila. Most of these secretion pathways have been shown to affect the virulence of this pathogen. An overview will be given of all the secretion pathways and the proteins transported by these secretion systems identified so far, with special attention paid to those that play a role in the pathogenicity of L. pneumophila.
Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Emmy
E
De Buck
Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Jozef
J
Anné
Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 10, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Elke
E
Lammertyn
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D021381:Protein Transport; D014774:Virulence
D001426:Bacterial Proteins