A novel mechanism by which the bacterium Legionella pneumophila regulates the immune response of its host cells

A novel mechanism by which the bacterium Legionella pneumophila regulates the immune response of its host cells

Legionellosis or Legionnaires’ disease affected more than 1,800 people in France in 2019 and caused 160 deaths. This emerging disease is caused by Legionella pneumophila, an environmental bacterium that thrives in hot water systems. Researchers from the Institut Pasteur, the CNRS, the University of Paris have discovered a mechanism that allows Legionella pneumophila to target the immune response of the cells it infects by secreting a small regulatory RNA. This mechanism, not described before, facilitates the survival and proliferation of Legionella pneumophila during infection. The work provides precious information on the strategies used by bacteria to manipulate their host cells. This research has been published online on February 9 on the Nature Communications website.

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