COXIELLA-BURNETII - THE QUERY FEVER BACTERIUM - A MODEL OF IMMUNE SUBVERSION BY A STRICTLY INTRACELLULAR MICROORGANISM

Although substantial progress occurred in the knowledge of Coxiella bu rnetii during the past years, the pathophysiology of Q fever is still obscure. Emerging evidence from clinical investigations suggested that certain disorders of cell-mediated immunity play a pivotal role in Q fever and especially in its chronic form. This review analyses the pot ential stategies that C. burnetii, a strictly intracellular pathogen, use to divert microbicidal mechanisms of macrophages and to depress pr otective T-cell mediated immunity. The role of monocytes in the induct ion of Q fever is specifically discussed.