title: Autophagy and the cytoskeleton: new links revealed by intracellular pathogens.
abstract: Actin-based motility is used by various pathogens such as Listeria and Shigella for dissemination within cells: and tissues, yet host factors counteracting this process have not been identified. We have recently discovered that infected host cells can prevent actin-based motility of Shigella by compartmentalizing bacteria inside 'septin cages,' revealing a novel mechanism of host defense that restricts dissemination. Because bacterial proteins controlling actin-based motility also regulate the autophagy process, we hypothesized and then established a link between septin caging and autophagy. Together, these results unveiled the first cellular mechanism that counteracts pathogen dissemination. Understanding the role of septins, a so far poorly characterized component of the cytoskeleton, will thus provide new insights into bacterial infection and autophagy.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité des Interactions Bactéries-Cellules, Paris, France. smostowy@pasteur.fr
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mostowy
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cossart
mesh_terms: D001343:Autophagy; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000382:microbiology; D008087:Listeria / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012760:Shigella / Q000502:physiology*