Chlamydia weave a protective cloak spun of actin and intermediate filaments.
Pathogenic microbes exploit the host cytoskeleton for entry, colonization, and intracellular survival in eukaryotic cells. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Kumar and Valdivia (2008) report that Chlamydia trachomatis co-opts host actin and intermediate filaments to form a dynamic scaffold providing structural integrity to the chlamydial vacuole and minimizing immune detection.
Scidmore
Marci
M
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. ms299@cornell.edu
D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins