Cell biology of Legionella pneumophila

Curr Opin Microbiol. 1999 Feb;2(1):30-4. doi: 10.1016/s1369-5274(99)80005-8.

Abstract

Legionella pneumophila is the causative agent of a potentially fatal form of pneumonia named Legionnaires' disease. L. pneumophila survives and replicates inside macrophages by preventing phagosome-lysosome fusion. A large number of L. pneumophila genes, called dot or icm, have been identified that are required for intracellular growth. It has recently been shown that the dot/icm genes code for a putative large membrane complex that forms a type IV secretion system used to alter the endocytic pathway.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amoeba / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Culture Media
  • Cytotoxins / biosynthesis
  • Escherichia coli Proteins*
  • Genes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Humans
  • Legionella pneumophila / genetics
  • Legionella pneumophila / growth & development
  • Legionella pneumophila / pathogenicity
  • Legionella pneumophila / physiology*
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • Periplasmic Proteins*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Sodium Chloride
  • U937 Cells
  • Virulence
  • Virulence Factors*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Culture Media
  • Cytotoxins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • PTL-1 protein, C elegans
  • Periplasmic Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Virulence Factors
  • trbA protein, E coli
  • Sodium Chloride