INTERACTIONS OF MICROSPORIDIA WITH INFECTED HOST CELL

Tsitologiia. 2016;58(8):594-601.
[Article in English, Russian]

Abstract

Microsporidia comprise a group of fungi-related obligate intracellular eukaryotic pathogens with extremely wide host range: from protists to mammals. Adaptation to intracellular parasitism drives these parasites towards significant reduction and modification of the genome and functional apparatus, which causes extreme dependence on the host cell, as well as sophisticated host-parasite relationships. In this review we summarize our results and recent literature data about microsporidian interactions with the host at the cellular level. The impacts of these pathogens to infected cells include induction of hypertrophy, restructuring and modification of the cytoskeleton and the vesicular transport system of the host cells. Microsporidians also able to stimulate the metabolic processes in the infected cells and inhibit their defensive reactions. The main tool of the direct regulatory impact of microsporidia on the host cell apparently is the secretion of the special protein effectors capable to interfere to regulatory and signaling pathways of the host cell.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Physiological Phenomena
  • Cytoplasm
  • Host-Parasite Interactions*
  • Microsporidia / pathogenicity*