Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Neisseria gonorrhoeae (also known as gonococcus) has been causing gonorrhoea in humans since ancient Egyptian times. Today, global gonorrhoea infections are rising at an alarming rate, in concert with an increasing number of antimicrobial-resistant strains. The gonococcus has concurrently evolved se...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119834/full |
| _version_ | 1811173259159273472 |
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| author | Emma Walker Stacy van Niekerk Kyrin Hanning William Kelton William Kelton Joanna Hicks |
| author_facet | Emma Walker Stacy van Niekerk Kyrin Hanning William Kelton William Kelton Joanna Hicks |
| author_sort | Emma Walker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neisseria gonorrhoeae (also known as gonococcus) has been causing gonorrhoea in humans since ancient Egyptian times. Today, global gonorrhoea infections are rising at an alarming rate, in concert with an increasing number of antimicrobial-resistant strains. The gonococcus has concurrently evolved several intricate mechanisms that promote pathogenesis by evading both host immunity and defeating common therapeutic interventions. Central to these adaptations is the ability of the gonococcus to manipulate various host microenvironments upon infection. For example, the gonococcus can survive within neutrophils through direct regulation of both the oxidative burst response and maturation of the phagosome; a concerning trait given the important role neutrophils have in defending against invading pathogens. Hence, a detailed understanding of how N. gonorrhoeae exploits the human host to establish and maintain infection is crucial for combating this pathogen. This review summarizes the mechanisms behind host manipulation, with a central focus on the exploitation of host epithelial cell signaling to promote colonization and invasion of the epithelial lining, the modulation of the host immune response to evade both innate and adaptive defenses, and the manipulation of host cell death pathways to both assist colonization and combat antimicrobial activities of innate immune cells. Collectively, these pathways act in concert to enable N. gonorrhoeae to colonize and invade a wide array of host tissues, both establishing and disseminating gonococcal infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:44:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe6df84022ea4e3e88f1c6b56757852b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:44:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe6df84022ea4e3e88f1c6b56757852b2023-02-03T05:28:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-02-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11198341119834Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeaeEmma Walker0Stacy van Niekerk1Kyrin Hanning2William Kelton3William Kelton4Joanna Hicks5Te Huataki Waiora, School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Huataki Waiora, School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Huataki Waiora, School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Huataki Waiora, School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandTe Huataki Waiora, School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New ZealandNeisseria gonorrhoeae (also known as gonococcus) has been causing gonorrhoea in humans since ancient Egyptian times. Today, global gonorrhoea infections are rising at an alarming rate, in concert with an increasing number of antimicrobial-resistant strains. The gonococcus has concurrently evolved several intricate mechanisms that promote pathogenesis by evading both host immunity and defeating common therapeutic interventions. Central to these adaptations is the ability of the gonococcus to manipulate various host microenvironments upon infection. For example, the gonococcus can survive within neutrophils through direct regulation of both the oxidative burst response and maturation of the phagosome; a concerning trait given the important role neutrophils have in defending against invading pathogens. Hence, a detailed understanding of how N. gonorrhoeae exploits the human host to establish and maintain infection is crucial for combating this pathogen. This review summarizes the mechanisms behind host manipulation, with a central focus on the exploitation of host epithelial cell signaling to promote colonization and invasion of the epithelial lining, the modulation of the host immune response to evade both innate and adaptive defenses, and the manipulation of host cell death pathways to both assist colonization and combat antimicrobial activities of innate immune cells. Collectively, these pathways act in concert to enable N. gonorrhoeae to colonize and invade a wide array of host tissues, both establishing and disseminating gonococcal infection.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119834/fullgonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)apoptosiscell signaling and infectiongonorrhoea pathogenesisimmunology and infectious disease |
| spellingShingle | Emma Walker Stacy van Niekerk Kyrin Hanning William Kelton William Kelton Joanna Hicks Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae Frontiers in Microbiology gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) apoptosis cell signaling and infection gonorrhoea pathogenesis immunology and infectious disease |
| title | Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| title_full | Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| title_fullStr | Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| title_short | Mechanisms of host manipulation by Neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| title_sort | mechanisms of host manipulation by neisseria gonorrhoeae |
| topic | gonorrhoea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae) apoptosis cell signaling and infection gonorrhoea pathogenesis immunology and infectious disease |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119834/full |
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