Summary
Chlamydiae are obligately intracellular procaryotic parasites, and their activities as agents of human disease are determined to a large degree by their intracellular way of life. The inside of a host cell is a hostile environment, and few microorganisms survive and multiply intracellularly. Those that do have evolved adaptations that fit them for life inside other cells. Apart from the viruses, chlamydiae are the infectious agents most highly adapted to intracellular life. Of all the properties of chlamydiae, the ones most likely to determine their pathogenic potential are those that reflect their adaptations to life inside host cells. Wherever possible, these chlamydial activities will be identified and described.
Zusammenfassung
Chlamydien sind obligat intrazelluläre prokaryote Parasiten, und ihre Aktivitäten als Krankheitserreger beim Menschen werden weitgehend von den Gegebenheiten ihres intrazellulären Lebens bestimmt. Das Innere einer Wirtszelle ist eine feindliche Umgebung, und es gibt nur wenige Mikroorganismen, die intrazellulär überleben und sich vermehren. Diejenigen, die dazu in der Lage sind, haben Anpassungsmechanismen entwickelt, die sie für das Leben in anderen Zellen ausrüsten. Abgesehen von Viren sind Chlamydien von allen infektiösen Agentien am besten für das intrazelluläre Leben angepaßt. Das pathogene Potential der Chlamydien wird am ehesten von denjenigen Eigenschaften bestimmt, die Anpassungsvorgänge für das Leben im Inneren der Wirtszelle darstellen. Soweit es möglich ist, werden diese Aktivitäten der Chlamydien identifiziert und beschrieben.
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Moulder, J.W. The relation of basic biology to pathogenic potential in the genus chlamydia. Infection 10 (Suppl 1), S10–S18 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640709
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640709