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Molecular pathogenesis of the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Molecular pathogenesis of the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii

Erin J van Schaik, Chen Chen, Katja Mertens, Mary M Weber and James E Samuel
Nature reviews. Microbiology, Vol.11(8), pp.561-573
08/2013
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro3049
PMCID: PMC4134018
PMID: 23797173

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Abstract

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.

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