Legionella pneumophila

Abstract

Legionella pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen, ubiquitous in the environment and considered opportunistic. It is the leading cause of legionellosis, which can be present in its nonpneumonic form (Pontiac fever) and acute pneumonic form (Legionnaires`disease -LD). In the soil and aquatic systems, L. pneumophila can invade and survive intracellularly in various protozoans. The ability to proliferate within biofilms provides additional protection from environmental stresses, such as disinfection. Human infection by L. pneumophila occurs after the inhalation or aspiration of aerosols containing the pathogen. Upon infection, alveolar macrophages can be invaded and used by L. pneumophila for replication, resembling the infection of protozoan hosts in the environment. The ability of L. pneumophila to overcome the killing mechanisms of phagocytes depends on the Dot/Icm type IV secretion systema specialized protein translocation system vital for the intracellular survival of the pathogen and for establishing a replicative niche known as the Legionella-containing vacuole. Following host cell lysis, the released bacteria infect other host cells, beginning a new cycle of infection.

Impact of COVID-19 control measures on Legionella pneumophila infections in children in Henan, China

“…L. pneumophila , an aerobic gram-negative bacterium, was named for an unidentified lung infection discovered at the annual legion meeting in Philadelphia, USA, in 1976 4 . L. pneumophila is widespread in natural water systems (freshwater reservoirs, waterways) as well as in man-made water systems (landscape fountains, plumbing systems, air conditioning units, shower installations) 5 . As one of the respiratory pathogens of severe community-acquired pneumonia, L. pneumophila is inhaled into the respiratory tract as aerosols and causes lower respiratory diseases by attacking alveolar macrophages 6 , 7 .…”

The ever increasing necessity of mass spectrometry in dissecting protein post-translational modifications catalyzed by bacterial effectors

“…Gram-negative bacterial pathogens such as Shigella flexneri ,Salmonella enterica , Legionella pneumophila , etc., cause a broad range of communicable human diseases (Jennison & Verma, 2004;Knodler & Elfenbein, 2019;Gonçalves et al, 2021). Their virulence is often mediated by dedicated protein secretion systems (i.e., type III for S. flexneri and S. enterica or type IV for L. pneumophila ), which can deliver effector proteins directly into host cells to modulate diverse cellular pathways (Muthuramalingam et al, 2021;Jennings et al, 2017;Hubber & Roy, 2010;Isberg et al, 2009).…”

Vaccinomics to Design a Multiepitope Vaccine against Legionella pneumophila

“…Though these bacteria are common in natural water systems, the sickness is caused by higher populations in artificial water systems, which are more likely to produce aerosols that host the bacteria. Premise plumbing, misters, showers, and cooling towers are examples of aerosol-producing designed water systems [ 7 ]. Throughout the SARS-CoV2 pandemic, the situation has become even more severe, as massive worldwide “stay-at-home” orders have made a conducive atmosphere for the growth of Legionella and propagation [ 8 ].…”