Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne neglected tropical disease associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations. Although determinants of visceral leishmaniasis are still poorly understood, various types of models are starting provide insight into the disease. Here McCall et al. discuss the vector, host, and pathogen factors that mediate the development of visceral leishmaniasis.
Candida is the most common human fungal pathogen and the cause of invasive candidiasis, the fourth leading cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection in the United States. Lionakis and Netea critically review the current knowledge on Candida and host factors that modulate susceptibility to invasive candidiasis in the mouse model of the infection and in humans.
Signaling through Toll-like and RIG-I like receptors triggers expression of type I interferon (IFN) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), in part through the IRF family of transcription factors. Here Lazear et al. establish IRF-3, -5, and -7 as the key transcription factors responsible for mediating the type I IFN and ISG response in myeloid dendritic cells during West Nile Virus infection.
Infection by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica causes destruction of liver tissue. Host tissue damage is attributed mainly to the parasite, but massive early accumulation of innate immune cells at the infection site raises the question of whether these cells also contribute to tissue damage. Helk et al. show that host immune mechanisms are responsible for liver tissue damage during infection.
The lipid biosynthetic pathway is one target actively pursued to develop anti-Staphylococcal agents. However, little is known about the underlying signaling mechanisms that allow bacteria to control their membrane lipid composition within narrow limits. Albanesi et al. reveal the mechanistic basis of a biological switch that controls membrane lipid homeostasis in Staphylococcus aureus.
PLOS Pathogens is an open-access journal that publishes important new ideas on bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions, and viruses that contribute to our understanding of the biology of pathogens and pathogen-host interactions.