Autophagy and Burkholderia. Issue 1 (21st October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devenish, Rodney J; Lai, Shu‐chin
• Is Part Of: Immunology and cell biology. Volume 93:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2014-10-21
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1038/icb.2014.87
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0818-9641

Abstract

Abstract : Autophagy has become increasingly viewed as an important component of the eukaryotic innate immune system. The elimination of intracellular pathogens by autophagy in mammalian cells (xenophagy) results not only in the degradation of invading bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, but also liberation of metabolites that may have been utilized during pathogen infection, thus promoting cell survival. After gaining entry into the cell, intracellular bacterial pathogens attempt to escape from phagosomes (or endosomes) into the cytosol where they endeavour to continue the infection cycle unhindered by host cell protective mechanisms. Bacterial recognition resulting from either their cytosolic location, the secretion of bacterial products, or phagosomal membrane damage, can induce autophagy. In this context, induction of autophagy results in the clearance of some bacterial pathogens, whereas other bacteria are able to manipulate autophagy for their own benefit and appear to effectively replicate within autophagosome‐like vesicles. Some bacteria are seemingly able to evade autophagy and Burkholderia pseudomallei is one of them. This review will discuss the autophagic processes that may be activated by host cells to provide protection against infection by this bacterial pathogen. Abstract : The January 2015 issue contains a Special Feature on Autophagy and Immunity. Autophagy is an essential process to maintain cellular homeostasis and functions. It is responsible for the lysosome‐mediated degradation of damaged proteins and organelles, and dysregulation of this pathway contributes to the development of a variety of diseases in man, including: diabetes, neurodegeneration and cancer. Recent studies have illuminated the importance of the regulatory pathways that control autophagy and the wide range of physiological processes it regulates in humans. Immunology and Cell Biology thanks the coordinators of this Special Feature ‐ Jim Harris and Justine Mintern ‐ for their planning and input. Further background information on this important topic is available through the accompanying web focus which links to related articles from across Nature Publishing Group.