6533b856fe1ef96bd12b2598

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Strategies for Survival of Extracellular Pathogens

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Publisher Summary This chapter highlights a simple listing of microbial factors that may contribute to extracellular survival. In addition, it outlines principles and discusses prototypes for extracellular versus intracellular survival strategies. Strategies for extracellular survival can often be equated with pathogenicity mechanisms, and counteractive measures can therefore form the basis for prophylaxis or therapy of the respective infections. These aspects are aluded throughout the chapter, since they investigates how basic research into microbial virulence mechanisms can lead to advances in clinical medicine. Most bacteria that cause extracellular infections cannot afford to be engulfed by professional phagocytes, since they are usually highly susceptible to the microbicidal mechanisms of these cells. The chapter ends with reflections on some key mechanisms that come into play during the evolution of two classic extracellular infections, wound infections and bronchopneumonia in cystic fibrosis patients where ultimately, the detrimental effects culminate to produce the clinical presentation of global pulmonary, failure.