Dying for a cause: The pathogenic manipulation of cell death and efferocytic pathways

Abstract

Cell death is a natural consequence of infection. However, although the induction of cell death was solely thought to benefit the pathogen, compelling data now show that the activation of cell death pathways serves as a nuanced antimicrobial strategy that couples pathogen elimination with the generation of inflammatory cytokines and the priming of innate and adaptive cellular immunity. Following cell death, the phagocytic uptake of the infected dead cell by antigen-presenting cells and the subsequent lysosomal fusion of the apoptotic body containing the pathogen serve as an important antimicrobial mechanism that furthers the development of downstream adaptive immune responses. Despite the complexity of regulated cell death pathways, pathogens are highly adept at evading them. Here, we provide an overview of the remarkable diversity of cell death and efferocytic pathways and discuss illustrative examples of virulence strategies employed by pathogens, including oral pathogens, to counter their activation and persist within the host.