Open AccessRecent insights into host–pathogen interactions from Dictyostelium
Author(s) -
Clarke Margaret
Publication year - 2010
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.1462-5822.2009.01413.x
Subject(s) - biology , dictyostelium discoideum , amoeba (genus) , dictyostelium , host (biology) , protozoa , pathogen , opportunistic pathogen , fungal pathogen , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , genetics , gene , pseudomonas aeruginosa
Summary To protect themselves from predation by amoebae and protozoa in the natural environment, some bacteria evolved means of escaping killing. The same mechanisms allow survival in mammalian phagocytes, producing opportunistic human pathogens. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a powerful system for analysis of conserved host–pathogen interactions. This report reviews recent insights gained for several bacterial pathogens using Dictyostelium as host.