ABSTRACT
To recognize the pathogenic mechanism of bacterial infection, a clear knowledge on innate and adaptive immune responses of host against bacterial pathogen is significant. Bacteria have developed interesting strategies by expressing virulence factors that interact with the host, leading to adherence, colonization, invasion, and proliferation; latent stage; and commensalism. Successful infection occurs only if the pathogen is able to survive in the host environment and modulate the host mechanism to prevent it from being killed. In this chapter, host–bacteria interaction is comprehensively discussed with special emphasis on foodborne pathogens. The key areas covered are virulence factors, capsule, cell wall, lipopolysaccharides, secretion systems, outer membrane vesicles, adhesins, invasins, exotoxins, bacterial metabolism, and the role of iron in host–pathogen interaction and subversion of cell signaling by pathogens. Further, some of the novel areas of host–pathogen interactions like miRNAs, polyamines, and prenylated proteins have also been covered. Genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics approaches in the post-genomic era resulted in the accelerated discovery of more pathogenic or virulent factors. Biological data obtained from transcriptomic and proteomic study can be useful for understanding the host–pathogen interactions using appropriate computational tools.
