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Molecular pathogenesis of the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii

2013; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 11; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/nrmicro3049

1740-1534

Erin J. van Schaik, Chen Chen, Katja Mertens‐Scholz, Mary M. Weber, James E. Samuel,

Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research

The obligate intracellular bacteriumCoxiella burnetii causes both acute and chronic zoonotic infections. Here, Samuel and colleagues discuss the recent technological advances that have facilitated a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of C. burnetiipathogenesis, including host cell invasion and modulation by virulence factors exported through the type IV Dot/Icm secretion system. The agent of Q fever, Coxiella burnetii, is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes acute and chronic infections. The study of C. burnetii pathogenesis has benefited from two recent fundamental advances: improved genetic tools and the ability to grow the bacterium in extracellular media. In this Review, we describe how these recent advances have improved our understanding of C. burnetii invasion and host cell modulation, including the formation of replication-permissive Coxiella-containing vacuoles. Furthermore, we describe the Dot/Icm (defect in organelle trafficking/intracellular multiplication) system, which is used by C. burnetii to secrete a range of effector proteins into the host cell, and we discuss the role of these effectors in remodelling the host cell.