Host cell death machinery as a target for bacterial pathogens

Elimination of infected cells via programmed cell death plays a fundamental role in the defense of multicellular organisms against bacteria, viruses, and parasites Several pathogens have therefore evolved sophisticated strategies to modulate the host cell death programme for their survival. This review aims to summarize recent findings on how bacterial pathogens interfere with the host cell death apparatus. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.