Nuclear warfare: pathogen manipulation of the nuclear pore complex and nuclear functions

ABSTRACT Viruses and bacteria exploit the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and host nuclear functions to bypass cellular barriers and manipulate essential processes. Viruses frequently engage directly with NPC components, such as nucleoporins, to enable genome import and evade immune defenses. In contrast...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Brianna Steiert, Mary M. Weber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-04-01
Series:mBio
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.01940-24
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Viruses and bacteria exploit the nuclear pore complex (NPC) and host nuclear functions to bypass cellular barriers and manipulate essential processes. Viruses frequently engage directly with NPC components, such as nucleoporins, to enable genome import and evade immune defenses. In contrast, bacterial pathogens rely on secreted effector proteins to disrupt nuclear transport and reprogram host transcription. These strategies reflect a remarkable evolutionary convergence, with both types of pathogens targeting the NPC and nuclear functions to promote infection. This minireview explores the overlapping and unique mechanisms by which pathogens hijack the host nucleus, shedding light on their roles in disease and potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.
ISSN:2150-7511