Open AccessStructural microbiology at the pathogen–host interface
Author(s) -
Stebbins C. Erec
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2005.00564.x
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , secretion , endocytic cycle , internalization , cytosol , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , extracellular , virulence factor , host (biology) , receptor , endocytosis , biochemistry , genetics , gene , enzyme
Summary Bacterial pathogens achieve the internalization of a multitude of virulence factors into eukaryotic cells. Some secrete extracellular toxins which bring about their own entry, usually by hijacking cell surface receptors and endocytic pathways. Others possess specialized secretion and translocation systems to directly inject bacterial proteins into the host cytosol. Recent advances in the structural biology of these virulence factors has begun to reveal at the molecular level how these bacterial proteins are delivered and modulate host activities ranging from cytoskeletal structure to cell cycle progression.