ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights the role of key structural and functional properties of Coxiella burnetii which contribute to the successful interaction of this obligate phagolysosomal parasite with cells from both non-immune and immune hosts. The most common type of endocytosis exhibited by both professional and non-professional phagocytes is receptor-mediated endocytosis. This type of endocytosis generally involves four steps. First, the attachment of the bacterium with the cell surface via interaction between the bacterial ligands and the specific binding components or receptors on the host cell surface. Secondly, internalization of the bacterium after coupling of the ligands with the specific receptors. Third, formation of “clathrin-coated pits” and finally delivery of internalized bacteria to the lysosomes. Some progress has been made in correlating the physicochemical, biochemical, and physiological properties of C. burnetii with their role in endocytosis. Since C. burnetii does not metabolize exogenously supplied substrates at neutral pH, an active energizing process is probably not required for the initiation of uptake.
