Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Haemophilus ducreyi, the causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection chancroid, is primarily a pathogen of human skin. During infection, H. ducreyi thrives extracellularly in a milieu of professional phagocytes and other antibacterial components of the innate and adaptive immune responses. This review summarizes our understanding of the interplay between this pathogen and its host that leads to development and persistence of disease. RECENT FINDINGS: H. ducreyi expresses key virulence mechanisms to resist host defenses. The secreted LspA proteins are tyrosine-phosphorylated by host kinases, which may contribute to their antiphagocytic effector function. The serum resistance and adherence functions of DsrA map to separate domains of this multifunctional virulence factor. An influx transporter protects H. ducreyi from killing by the antimicrobial peptide LL37. Regulatory genes have been identified that may coordinate virulence factor expression during disease. Dendritic cells and natural killer cells respond to H. ducreyi and may be involved in determining the differential outcomes of infection observed in humans. SUMMARY: A human model of H. ducreyi infection has provided insights into virulence mechanisms that allow this human-specific pathogen to survive immune pressures. Components of the human innate immune system may also determine the ultimate fate of H. ducreyi infection by driving either clearance of the organism or an ineffective response that allows disease progression.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 64-69 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2010 |
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Keywords
- Chancroid
- Differential host susceptibility
- Haemophilus ducreyi
- Human model
- Immunopathogenesis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases
Cite this
Host-pathogen interplay of Haemophilus ducreyi. / Janowicz, Diane; Li, Wei; Bauer, Margaret.
In: Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases, Vol. 23, No. 1, 02.2010, p. 64-69.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Host-pathogen interplay of Haemophilus ducreyi
AU - Janowicz, Diane
AU - Li, Wei
AU - Bauer, Margaret
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
AB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
KW - Chancroid
KW - Differential host susceptibility
KW - Haemophilus ducreyi
KW - Human model
KW - Immunopathogenesis
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=74249092659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/QCO.0b013e328334c0cb
DO - 10.1097/QCO.0b013e328334c0cb
M3 - Article
C2 - 19918177
AN - SCOPUS:74249092659
VL - 23
SP - 64
EP - 69
JO - Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
JF - Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
SN - 0951-7375
IS - 1
ER -