Autophagy Defends Cells Against Invading Group A Streptococcus

I Nakagawa, A Amano, N Mizushima, A Yamamoto… - Science, 2004 - science.org
I Nakagawa, A Amano, N Mizushima, A Yamamoto, H Yamaguchi, T Kamimoto, A Nara…
Science, 2004science.org
We found that the autophagic machinery could effectively eliminate pathogenic group A
Streptococcus (GAS) within nonphagocytic cells. After escaping from endosomes into the
cytoplasm, GAS became enveloped by autophagosome-like compartments and were killed
upon fusion of these compartments with lysosomes. In autophagy-deficient Atg5–/–cells,
GAS survived, multiplied, and were released from the cells. Thus, the autophagic machinery
can act as an innate defense system against invading pathogens.
We found that the autophagic machinery could effectively eliminate pathogenic group A Streptococcus (GAS) within nonphagocytic cells. After escaping from endosomes into the cytoplasm, GAS became enveloped by autophagosome-like compartments and were killed upon fusion of these compartments with lysosomes. In autophagy-deficient Atg5–/– cells, GAS survived, multiplied, and were released from the cells. Thus, the autophagic machinery can act as an innate defense system against invading pathogens.
AAAS