Abstract
New human rickettsial pathogens have been discovered, and long-known rickettsiae of undetermined pathogenicity have been demonstrated to cause illness. Disease associated with Rickettsia slovaca has unique clinical manifestations, including prominent lymphadenopathy without fever and rash. Rickettsial genomes are highly conserved, with reductive evolution leading to a small genome that relies on the host cell for many biosynthetic functions. Advances in the evaluation of the pathogenesis of rickettsial disease include identification of rickettsial adhesins, a host cell receptor, signaling elements associated with entry of rickettsiae by induced phagocytosis, rickettsial enzymes mediating phagosomal escape, and host actin-based rickettsial cell-to-cell spread. Disruption of adherens junctions of infected endothelial cells likely plays a role in the critical pathophysiologic mechanism: increased microvascular permeability. Production of reactive oxygen species by infected endothelium injures these cells. However, disseminated intravascular coagulation rarely occurs. Immunity is mediated by reactive cytokine-activated rickettsicidal nitrogen and oxygen species and by clearance of rickettsiae by cytotoxic CD8 T cells.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Clinical Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | SUPPL. 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 15 2007 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology
Cite this
Rickettsiae and rickettsial infections : The current state of knowledge. / Walker, David.
In: Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol. 45, No. SUPPL. 1, 15.07.2007.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Rickettsiae and rickettsial infections
T2 - The current state of knowledge
AU - Walker, David
PY - 2007/7/15
Y1 - 2007/7/15
N2 - New human rickettsial pathogens have been discovered, and long-known rickettsiae of undetermined pathogenicity have been demonstrated to cause illness. Disease associated with Rickettsia slovaca has unique clinical manifestations, including prominent lymphadenopathy without fever and rash. Rickettsial genomes are highly conserved, with reductive evolution leading to a small genome that relies on the host cell for many biosynthetic functions. Advances in the evaluation of the pathogenesis of rickettsial disease include identification of rickettsial adhesins, a host cell receptor, signaling elements associated with entry of rickettsiae by induced phagocytosis, rickettsial enzymes mediating phagosomal escape, and host actin-based rickettsial cell-to-cell spread. Disruption of adherens junctions of infected endothelial cells likely plays a role in the critical pathophysiologic mechanism: increased microvascular permeability. Production of reactive oxygen species by infected endothelium injures these cells. However, disseminated intravascular coagulation rarely occurs. Immunity is mediated by reactive cytokine-activated rickettsicidal nitrogen and oxygen species and by clearance of rickettsiae by cytotoxic CD8 T cells.
AB - New human rickettsial pathogens have been discovered, and long-known rickettsiae of undetermined pathogenicity have been demonstrated to cause illness. Disease associated with Rickettsia slovaca has unique clinical manifestations, including prominent lymphadenopathy without fever and rash. Rickettsial genomes are highly conserved, with reductive evolution leading to a small genome that relies on the host cell for many biosynthetic functions. Advances in the evaluation of the pathogenesis of rickettsial disease include identification of rickettsial adhesins, a host cell receptor, signaling elements associated with entry of rickettsiae by induced phagocytosis, rickettsial enzymes mediating phagosomal escape, and host actin-based rickettsial cell-to-cell spread. Disruption of adherens junctions of infected endothelial cells likely plays a role in the critical pathophysiologic mechanism: increased microvascular permeability. Production of reactive oxygen species by infected endothelium injures these cells. However, disseminated intravascular coagulation rarely occurs. Immunity is mediated by reactive cytokine-activated rickettsicidal nitrogen and oxygen species and by clearance of rickettsiae by cytotoxic CD8 T cells.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447137410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34447137410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/518145
DO - 10.1086/518145
M3 - Article
C2 - 17582568
AN - SCOPUS:34447137410
VL - 45
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
SN - 1058-4838
IS - SUPPL. 1
ER -