Open AccessB acillus cereus immune escape: a journey within macrophages
Author(s) -
Tran SeavLy,
Ramarao Nalini
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12209
Subject(s) - bacillus cereus , cereus , immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , macrophage , phagocytosis , bacteremia , host (biology) , immunology , ecology , in vitro , antibiotics , genetics
During bacterial infection, professional phagocytes are attracted to the site of infection, where they constitute a first line of host cell defense. Their function is to engulf and destroy the pathogens. Thus, bacteria must withstand the bactericidal activity of professional phagocytes, including macrophages to counteract the host immune system. B acillus cereus infections are characterized by bacteremia despite the accumulation of inflammatory cells at the site of infection. This implies that the bacteria have developed means of resisting the host immune system. B acillus cereus spores survive, germinate, and multiply in contact with macrophages, eventually producing toxins that kill these cells. However, the exact mechanism by which B . cereus evades immune attack remains unclear. This review addresses the interaction between B . cereus and macrophages, highlighting, in particular, the ways in which the bacteria escape the microbicidal activities of professional phagocytes.