Formation of a pathogen vacuole according to Legionella pneumophila: how to kill one bird with many stones. (13th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finsel, Ivo; Hilbi, Hubert
• Is Part Of: Cellular microbiology. Volume 17:Number 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 935
• Page End: 950
• Publication Date: 2015-05-13
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Cells -- Periodicals; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie; Relation hôte-parasite; Cytologie; Cellule; Réponse cellulaire; Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); 579.05
• DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12450
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-5814

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <italic>L</italic> <italic>egionella</italic> species are ubiquitous, waterborne bacteria that thrive in numerous ecological niches. Yet, in contrast to many other environmental bacteria, <italic>L</italic><italic>egionella</italic> spp. are also able to grow intracellularly in predatory protozoa. This feature mainly accounts for the pathogenicity of <italic>L</italic><italic>egionella pneumophila</italic>, which causes the majority of clinical cases of a severe pneumonia termed Legionnaires' disease. The pathomechanism underlying <italic>L</italic><italic>. pneumophila</italic> infection is based on macrophage resistance, which in turn is largely defined by the opportunistic pathogen's resistance towards amoebae. <italic>L</italic><italic>. pneumophila</italic> replicates in macrophages or amoebae in a unique membrane‐bound compartment, the <italic>L</italic><italic>egionella</italic>‐containing vacuole (LCV). LCV formation requires the bacterial intracellular multiplication/defective for organelle trafficking (Icm/Dot) type IV secretion system and involves a plethora of translocated effector proteins, which subvert pivotal processes in the host cell. Of the ca. 300 different experimentally validated Icm/Dot substrates, about 50 have been studied and attributed a cellular function to date. The versatility and ingenuity of these effectors' mode of actions is striking. In this review, we summarize insight into the cellular functions and biochemical activities of well‐characterized <italic>L</italic><italic>. pneumophila</italic> effector proteins and the host pathways they target. Recent studies not only substantially increased our knowledge about pathogen–host interactions, but also shed light on novel biological mechanisms.</p> </abstract>