Outrageously Funny Word Definitions :: Bacterial Missiles

👉 Bacterial missiles, also known as Type III secretion systems (T3SS), are sophisticated molecular machines used by certain pathogenic bacteria to inject effector proteins directly into host cells. These systems function like molecular syringes, allowing bacteria to bypass the host cell's membrane and deliver their virulence factors into the cytoplasm of target cells. This process enables bacteria to manipulate host cell functions, evade immune responses, and promote infection. T3SS typically consist of a complex structure with multiple protein components that form a needle-like apparatus, which penetrates the host cell membrane and facilitates the translocation of effectors. By hijacking host cellular machinery, bacterial missiles play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of bacteria such as
Salmonella
,
Yersinia
, and
Pseudomonas
.

bacterial missiles