The intracellular agent of Q fever, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, alters human alveolar macrophage metabolism and mitochondrial physiology.

ABSTRACT: Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of Q fever, is a gram-negative intracellular bacterium that infects humans via contaminated aerosols typically while working with livestock. C. burnetii initially targets alveolar macrophages (AMs) to establish a growth niche within a phagolysosome-like compartment termed the Coxiella-containing vacuole (CCV). C. burnetii deploys a type IV secretion system (T4SS) to secrete effector proteins that control host cell functions to benefit the bacterium, orchestrating an immunosuppressive, pro-bacterial environment for replication to high numbers. Although multiple signaling pathways have been characterized in the context of C. burnetii infection, the role of host cell metabolic function in establishing favorable intracel

SUBMITTER: Adhvaryu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421863 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature