Programmed cell death and the pathogenesis of tissue injury induced by type A Francisella tularensis.
Francisella tularensis is a highly virulent bacterial species that causes various forms of tularemia in humans. The urgency in understanding the pathogenesis of these diseases has stimulated unprecedented interest in this bacterial species over the past few years. Recent findings underscore a number of important distinctions between the Francisella ssp. and emphasize the importance of using type A F. tularensis strains when characterizing pathophysiological responses that are relevant to the lethal forms of human disease. This review focuses on the mediators of cell death induction in infected tissues and the implications of these processes on the pathophysiological changes observed in various host species.
Parmely
Michael J
MJ
Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. mparmely@kumc.edu
Fischer
Jeffrey L
JL
Pinson
David M
DM
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D013045:Species Specificity; D014406:Tularemia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014774:Virulence