title: Francisella Subverts Innate Immune Signaling: Focus On PI3K/Akt.
abstract: Intracellular bacterial pathogens exploit host cells as a part of their lifecycle, and they do so by manipulating host cell signaling events. Many such bacteria are known to produce effector proteins that promote cell invasion, alter membrane trafficking, and disrupt signaling cascades. This review highlights recent advances in our understanding of signaling pathways involved in host cell responses to Francisella tularensis, a facultative Gram-negative intracellular pathogen that causes tularemia. We highlight several key pathways that are targeted by Francisella, with a focus on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Lastly, we discuss the emerging role of microRNAs (miRs), specifically miR-155, as a key regulator of host signaling and defense.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas John
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Butchar
authors.forename: Susheela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tridandapani