Immune Suppression of Legionella pneumophila: Can the Host Find a New Way?

GUO Wanlan^1,2, CHEN Taotao^1,2, OUYANG Songying^1,2

(¹College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, China; ²FJNU Biomedical Research Center of South, Fuzhou 350117, China)

Abstract:

L. pneumophila (Legionella pneumophila), a causative agent of a non-canonical pneumonia, injects nearly 330 virulence factors (most known of proteinases) into host cell through its unique type IVB (Dot/Icm) secretion system, modifying cell regulatory factors and inhibiting cell apoptosis to escape the host immune surveillance and promote its proliferation. PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns) and ETR (effector-triggered response) by L. pneumophila offers us a new insight into the interplay between host and Legionella. This review discussed pathogenesis, anti-host immune strategies of Legionella, and host immune response, to reveal the immune pathogenesis caused by L. pneumophila, and develop the best therapy solution for bacterial pneumonia.