Review article

Intracellular life of Francisella and Legionella within amoebae cells

Mateja Ožanič ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka
Valentina Marečić ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka
Ivana Gobin ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka
Marina Šantić ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka

Abstract

free-living amoebae are present in the nature, feeding mainly with bacteria, fungi, and algae. Some microorganisms have evolved different mechanisms to resist the digestion by amoebae and they are called “amoeba-resistant microorganisms”. Some of the important human bacterial pathogens belong to this category including Cryptococcus neoformans, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycobacterium avium, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella spp., and Francisella tularensis. Francisella and Legionella are gram negative facultative intracellular bacteria. Although the diseases they cause are completely different, they share some of the unique features in intracellular lifestyle within amoeba cells.

Keywords

amoeba; Francisella; Legionella

Hrčak ID:

152972

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/152972

Publication date:

1.3.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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