Abstract

Several pathogens — bacteria, viruses and parasites — must enter mammalian cells for survival, replication and immune-system evasion. These pathogens generally make use of existing cellular pathways that are designed for nutrient uptake, receptor downregulation and signalling. Because most of these pathways end in lysosomes, an organelle that is capable of killing microorganisms, pathogens have developed remarkable means to avoidinteractions with this lytic organelle.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
   Email: jean.gruenberg@biochem.unige.ch;
2. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 rue Michel Servet, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
3. Institute of Global Health, Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne, SVStation 15, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
   Email: gisou.vandergoot@epfl.ch

Published online 14 June 2006

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