Idiosyncratic Biogenesis of Intracellular Pathogens-Containing Vacuoles.

While most bacterial species taken up by macrophages are degraded through processing of the bacteria-containing vacuole through the endosomal-lysosomal degradation pathway, intravacuolar pathogens have evolved to evade degradation through the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. All intra-vacuolar pathogens possess specialized secretion systems (T3SS-T7SS) that inject effector proteins into the host cell cytosol to modulate myriad of host cell processes and remodel their vacuoles into proliferative niches. Although intravacuolar pathogens utilize similar secretion systems to interfere with their vacuole biogenesis, each pathogen has evolved a unique toolbox of protein effectors injected into the host cell to interact with, and modulate, distinct host cell targets.

An Indispensable Role for the MavE Effector of Legionella pneumophila in Lysosomal Evasion.

Diversion of the -containing vacuole (LCV) from the host endosomal-lysosomal degradation pathway is one of the main virulence features essential for manifestation of Legionnaires' pneumonia. Many of the ∼350 Dot/Icm-injected effectors identified in have been shown to interfere with various host pathways and processes, but no effector has ever been identified to be indispensable for lysosomal evasion. While most single effector mutants of do not exhibit a defective phenotype within macrophages, we show that the MavE effector is essential for intracellular growth of in human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) and amoebae and for intrapulmonary proliferation in mice.

Techniques for the investigation of traumatic brain injury mechanisms characterized by magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

In the United States, traumatic brain injury (TBI) continues to be a leading source of death and disability, being responsible for 30.5% of all injury-related deaths [1]. Uncertainty still exists concerning the mechanisms and injury cascades involved.