Human rickettsioses: Host response and molecular pathogenesis

Abstract

Rickettsia are medically relevant obligately intracellular bacterial pathogens that cause potentially severe disease. As the causative agents of epidemic typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, these neglected pathogens have had significant impacts on society with mortality rates reaching upwards of 50 %. Antibiotic therapies are often delayed, as initial diagnosis is difficult and easily confused with viral infections. This chapter will address Rickettsia and host interactions such as adhesion to and invasion of host target cells, endothelial pathogenesis, and immune response to rickettsioses. Further, the chapter will provide an overview of rickettsial genetics, metabolism, and secretion systems and their relationship to molecular pathogenesis.