Autophagy Subversion by Bacteria

CAMPOY, EMANUEL MARTIN; COLOMBO MARIA ISABEL

Autophagy in infection and immunity

Springer

Lugar: Heidelberg; Año: 2009; p. 227 - 250

Autophagy is an important cell survival process during nitrogen starvationconditions and it also has a housekeeping role by removing superfluous or agedorganelles. Autophagy has been also linked to host cell control of several intracellularmicroorganims. However, since it is an important host defense mechanism, somepathogens have also evolved strategies to exploit or subvert autophagy. Thus, certainpathogens harness autophagy leading to persistent infection and pathogenesis. In thischapter we highlight our current understanding of those bacterial pathogens that transitthrough the autophagic pathway, efficiently replicating and surviving within the hostcell. In addition, we discuss present knowledge about how autophagy modulationaffects the infectious capacity and the life cycle of several intracellular pathogens.