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Autophagy and female genital tract infections: new insights and research directions
Author(s) -
Jayaram A,
Orfanelli T,
Doulaveris G,
Linhares IM,
Ledger WJ,
Witkin SS
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.12523
Subject(s) - autophagy , biology , organelle , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular parasite , phagosome , intracellular , protozoa , immunity , female circumcision , bacteria , mechanism (biology) , immunology , immune system , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , apoptosis , gynecology , philosophy , epistemology
Autophagy is a highly conserved process by which defective organelles, non‐functional proteins, and intracellular microorganisms become sequestered within structures called autophagosomes, which fuse with lysosomes and the engulfed components are degraded by lysosomal enzymes. In microbial autophagy degraded peptides are used to induce antigen‐specific acquired immunity. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa have developed strategies to subvert autophagy and/or to use this process to promote their replication and persistence. This review details the mechanisms by which microorganisms that infect the female genital tract and/or are detrimental to pregnancy interact with this host defence mechanism. Based on an understanding of autophagy‐related pathological mechanisms, we propose new avenues for research to more effectively prevent and/or treat these infectious diseases.