Host Epigenetics in Intracellular Pathogen Infections

Abstract

Some intracellular pathogens are able to avoid the defense mechanisms contributing to host epigenetic modifications. These changes trigger alterations tothe chromatin structure and on the transcriptional level of genes involved in the pathogenesis of many bacterial diseases. In this way, pathogens manipulate the host cell for their own survival. The better understanding of epigenetic consequences in bacterial infection may open the door for designing new vaccine approaches and therapeutic implications. This article characterizes selected intracellular bacterial pathogens, including Mycobacterium spp., Listeria spp., Chlamydia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Legionella spp. and Yersinia spp., which can modulate and reprogram of defense genes in host innate immune cells.

Towards the sustainable discovery and development of new antibiotics

“… Modulators and inhibitors of energy metabolism 98 , 99 . Host/pathogen epigenetic modulators 100 , 101 . …”

Bacterial nucleomodulins: A coevolutionary adaptation to the eukaryotic command center

“…In the context of infection, pathogen effector proteins may be targeted towards and modulate cellular functions compartmentalized into various organelles or in the cell cytoplasm [ 1 , 3 , 14 ]. It is becoming increasingly evident that a diverse array of effector proteins induce intracellular events within organelles or the cytosol [ 18 – 20 ]. Through induction of these intracellular events, pathogens can modulate the host cell genome, or “epigenome,” without altering the host DNA sequence [ 18 – 20 ].…”

“…It is becoming increasingly evident that a diverse array of effector proteins induce intracellular events within organelles or the cytosol [ 18 – 20 ]. Through induction of these intracellular events, pathogens can modulate the host cell genome, or “epigenome,” without altering the host DNA sequence [ 18 – 20 ]. Effector proteins exhibiting these epigenetic changes to the host cell epigenome without altering DNA sequences have been termed by Berger and colleagues as “epigenetors” [ 21 ].…”

“…Effector proteins exhibiting these epigenetic changes to the host cell epigenome without altering DNA sequences have been termed by Berger and colleagues as “epigenetors” [ 21 ]. Some of the most common and well-known examples of epigenetic changes induced by epigenetors include histone acetylation and deacetylation, histone methylation, and DNA methylation [ 18 – 20 , 22 ]. While these are the most well-known instances of epigenetic modifications, it is important to note that not all epigenetic changes induced by pathogens fall under these examples [ 18 – 20 , 22 ].…”

“…Some of the most common and well-known examples of epigenetic changes induced by epigenetors include histone acetylation and deacetylation, histone methylation, and DNA methylation [ 18 – 20 , 22 ]. While these are the most well-known instances of epigenetic modifications, it is important to note that not all epigenetic changes induced by pathogens fall under these examples [ 18 – 20 , 22 ]. Studies have defined the previously listed examples as direct strategies for inducing epigenetic modifications via altering host chromatin.…”