ABSTRACT
Infections by intracellular microorganisms challenge the defense mechanisms of an organism. Antibodies are unable to bind to foreign intracellular microorganisms, which allows intracellular parasites to avoid the responses initiated by antigen-antibody interactions. To effectively control an intracellular infection, the infected phagocyte, typically a monocyte, macrophage, or dendritic cell (DC), must be activated to a proin©ammatory state.
