Immune Evasion Mechanism of Bacteria

Abstract

The co-evolution of pathogenic bacteria and hosts has led to the development of an array of virulence genes and a set of mechanisms of defense that constitute the immune system. However, successful microbial pathogens have in turn evolved complex and efficient methods to overcome innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, which can result in disease or chronic infections. Different mechanisms are used to subvert and exploit immune systems that are shared between these diverse microbial pathogens. The success of each pathogen is directly dependent on its ability to mount an effective anti-immune response within the infected host, which can ultimately result in acute or chronic infection or pathogen clearance. In this review, some of the mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens evade host immune systems like Biofilm formation and quorum sensing, bacterial surface modulators, inhibition of cytokines, blockade of Acquired Immunity, and other mechanisms are mentioned.