An analysis of sub-cellular localization of host sorting nexin 4 and 7 in Coxiella burnetii infected Hela cells

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that is the causative agent of acute and chronic disease in humans (Kazar 2005). Bacterial replication is dependent on C. burnetii protein synthesis to create and maintain enlarged parasitophorous vacuoles (PV) within its eukaryotic host cell (Tang and Ho 2007). Human infection occurs with the inhalation of aerosols containing the small cell variant (SCV) form of C. burnetii (Tang and Ho 2007). Once these metabolically inactive SCVs are passively engulfed by mononuclear phagocytes in the lung, they differentiate into metabolically active and replicative large cell variants (LCVs) (Coleman et al. 2004). C. burnetii LCVs then undergo a series of maturation steps through the host cell endocytic pathway to develop into a PV with lysosomal characteristics(Coleman et al. 2004). LCV replication is accompanied by a remarkable expansion of the PV(Coleman et al. 2004). The formation of this spacious PV (SPV) indicates that C. burnetii manipulates host cell pathways to survive and replicate(Coleman et al. 2004).