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Complement Evasion Strategies of Human Pathogenic Bacteria

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Abstract

Human pathogens need to overcome an elaborate network of host defense mechanisms in order to establish their infection, colonization, proliferation and eventual dissemination. The interaction of pathogens with different effector molecules of the immune system results in their neutralization and elimination from the host. The complement system is one such integral component of innate immunity that is critically involved in the early recognition and elimination of the pathogen. Hence, under this immune pressure, all virulent pathogens capable of inducing active infections have evolved immune evasive strategies that primarily target the complement system, which plays an essential and central role for host defense. Recent reports on several bacterial pathogens have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying complement evasion, inhibition of opsonic phagocytosis and cell lysis. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the recent findings on the various strategies adopted by pathogenic bacteria to escape complement-mediated clearance.

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support of the Department of Biotechnology (BSL-3 facility), Department of Science & Technology (FIST & PURSE) and University Grant Commission (UPE II) to RB and DG.

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  1. Laboratory of Malaria and Vaccine Research, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Shikhar Sharma & Deepak Gaur

  2. Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Rakesh Bhatnagar

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Sharma, S., Bhatnagar, R. & Gaur, D. Complement Evasion Strategies of Human Pathogenic Bacteria. Indian J Microbiol 60, 283–296 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12088-020-00872-9

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