Evidence and speculation: the response of Salmonella confronted by autophagy in macrophages

Abstract

Bacteria of the Salmonella genus cause diseases ranging from self-limited gastroenteritis to typhoid fever. Macrophages are immune cells that engulf and restrict Salmonella. These cells will carry Salmonella into the circulatory system and provoke a systemic infection. Therefore, the interaction between macrophages and intracellular Salmonella is vital for its pathogenicity. As one of the immune responses of macrophages, autophagy, along with the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes, occupies an important position in eliminating Salmonella. However, Salmonella that can overcome cellular defensive responses and infect neighboring cells must derive strategies to escape autophagy. This review introduces novel findings on Salmonella and macrophage autophagy as a mechanism against infection and explores the strategies used by Salmonella to escape autophagy.