Actin-based motility of bacterial pathogens: mechanistic diversity and its impact on virulence

Abstract

<p class="first" id="d10361701e104">A diverse spectrum of intracellular bacterial pathogens that inhabit the cytosol have evolved the ability to polymerize actin on their surface to power intracellular actin-based motility (ABM). These include species of <i>Listeria</i>, <i>Burkholderia</i> and <i>Rickettsia</i>, as well as <i>Shigella</i> and <i>Mycobacteria</i>. Here, we provide an overview of the roles of bacterial ABM in survival and virulence. Moreover, we survey the molecular mechanisms of actin polymerization in host cells and describe how bacterial pathogens mimic or harness the full diversity of these mechanisms for ABM. Finally, we present ABM through a new lens by comparing motility mechanisms between related species of <i>Listeria</i>, <i>Burkholderia</i> and <i>Rickettsia</i>. Through these comparisons, we hope to illuminate how exploitation of different actin polymerization mechanisms influences ABM as well as pathogenicity and virulence in humans and other animals. </p><p class="first" id="d10361701e132">This minireview explores the roles of bacterial pathogen actin-based motility in survival and cell–cell spread, the diverse spectrum of motility mechanisms, and the impact of this mechanistic diversity on pathogenicity and virulence. </p>