biostudies-literatureFromm KSwiss National Science Foundation913434https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9336547biostudies-literatureUnknown13<i>Bartonella</i> spp. are Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogens that infect diverse mammals and cause a long-lasting intra-erythrocytic bacteremia in their natural host. These bacteria translocate <i>Bartonella</i> effector proteins (Beps) into host cells <i>via</i> their VirB/VirD4 type 4 secretion system (T4SS) in order to subvert host cellular functions, thereby leading to the downregulation of innate immune responses. Most studies on the functional analysis of the VirB/VirD4 T4SS and the Beps were performed with the major zoonotic pathogen <i>Bartonella henselae</i> for which efficient <i>in vitro</i> infection protocols have been established. However, its natural host, the cat, is unsuitable as an experimental infection model. <i>In vivo</i> studies were mostly confined tFrontiers in microbiology<i>Bartonella taylorii</i>: A Model Organism for Studying <i>Bartonella</i> Infection <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.PMC9336547201273Fromm KWagner SBohn EBoegli AOrtelli MWagner AMalmsheimer SDehio Cfalse<i>Bartonella taylorii</i>: A Model Organism for Studying <i>Bartonella</i> Infection <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.<i>Bartonella</i> spp. are Gram-negative facultative intracellular pathogens that infect diverse mammals and cause a long-lasting intra-erythrocytic bacteremia in their natural host. These bacteria translocate <i>Bartonella</i> effector proteins (Beps) into host cells <i>via</i> their VirB/VirD4 type 4 secretion system (T4SS) in order to subvert host cellular functions, thereby leading to the downregulation of innate immune responses. Most studies on the functional analysis of the VirB/VirD4 T4SS and the Beps were performed with the major zoonotic pathogen <i>Bartonella henselae</i> for which efficient <i>in vitro</i> infection protocols have been established. However, its natural host, the cat, is unsuitable as an experimental infection model. <i>In vivo</i> studies were mostly confined t2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-20T03:36:27.071Z2024-11-21T09:50:13.488ZS-EPMC93365473591059810.3389/fmicb.2022.913434