New insights into molecular Ehrlichia chaffeensis-host interactions

Abstract

Ehrlichia chaffeensis is an obligately intracellular bacterium that exhibits tropism for mononuclear phagocytes and survives by reprogramming the host cell. Here we review new information regarding the newly characterized effector molecules and the complex network of molecular host-pathogen interactions that the organism exploits enabling it to thrive and persist intracellularly.

Fig. 1

Colocalization of E. chaffeensis TRP47 with PCGF5, FYN, CAP1, and IGLL1 in E. chaffeensis-infected THP-1 cells. THP-1 cells were infected with E. chaffeensis and 3 days postinfection were dually labeled and examined by confocal microscopy. The panels on the left were labeled with TRP47 (green), middle panels labeled either with PCGF5, FYN, CAP1, or IGLL1 (red) and the panels on the right are merged images. PCGF5, FYN, CAP1, and IGLL1 colocalize with E. chaffeensis TRP47-labeled morulae (right panels, merged images). In the inset (TRP1 + CAP1 merged panel), a normal uninfected THP-1 cell reveals that CAP1 is mainly associated with plasma membrane, while in the E. chaffeensis-infected THP-1 cell, CAP1 is distributed in cytoplasm and associated with E. chaffeensis-containing morulae.