THE INTRACELLULAR LIFE OF CHLAMYDIA-PSITTACI - HOW DO THE BACTERIA INTERACT WITH THE HOST-CELL

Throughout the life of any organism interactions with the surrounding environment are always taking place, a process that leads to evolution . Chlamydia psittaci is an obligate intracellular parasite, but it mus t also be capable of extracellular survival in order to search for new host cells. Therefore, these peculiar prokaryotes have evolved two di fferent particles and a unique developmental cycle that, together with a series of not yet fully understood interactions with their host cel ls, allow them to fulfil the requirements for their permanence in natu re. These interactions are the subject of this paper. Particular atten tion is paid to the attachment and internalization of the bacteria, th e chamydial vacuole, and the avoidance of lysosomal degradation. (C) 1 998 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.