1977 Articles

Endocytic uptake of particles by mononuclear phagocytes and the penetration of obligate intracellular parasites

Silverstein, Samuel C.

As William Trager pointed out some time ago in a review in 'Science', all obligate intracellular parasites--be they viral, bacterial, or protozoan--face a common dilemma. That dilemma is to invade their host cells in a way that is not destructive of the host cell upon whose metabolic hospitality and functional well-being their own reproduction depends. Simply stated, these organisms must penetrate the plasma membranes of their host and take up residence in a suitable location in the cell's cytoplasm. Since many of the speakers in this session will address them selves to the issues of penetration and intracellular location of specific organisms, I view my task as one of trying to place these issues into a general conceptual framework.