Pathogens 2: Bacteria


Intracellular Bacteria

In absence of opsonins, macrophages can engulf bacteria and become infected

Bacteria must therefore have survival strategies

  • Avoid phagosome maturation
  • Escape from phagosome into cytoplasm
  • Release enzymes that lyse the phagosome membrane
  • Inhibit fusion with lysosomes
  1. Secrete repellents or toxins inhibiting chemotaxis
  2. Have capsules or outer coats which inhibit phagocyte attachment
  3. Allow uptake but release factors that block killing mechanisms
  4. Secrete catalase which inhibits hydrogen peroxide
  5. M.Leprae for example has highly resistant outer coat, phenolic glycolipid which scavenges free radicals
  6. Mycobacteria release lipoaribinomannan - blocks macrophages responding to IFN
  7. Stop antigen presentation
  8. Escape phagosome to multiply in cytoplasm

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