Legionella pneumophila

Definition

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram-negative bacterium that is the primary cause of Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. It thrives in aquatic environments and can infect humans through inhalation of contaminated water droplets.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Legionella pneumophila primarily infects alveolar macrophages by inhibiting phagosome-lysosome fusion.
2. It uses a Type IV secretion system to inject effector proteins into host cells, facilitating its survival and replication.
3. Diagnosis often involves culturing the bacteria from respiratory secretions or detection using urinary antigen tests.
4. Fluorescent antibody techniques can be used to identify Legionella species in clinical specimens.
5. Common sources of infection include cooling towers, hot tubs, and large plumbing systems.

Related terms

Legionnaires' disease:

A severe form of pneumonia caused by infection with Legionella pneumophila.

Type IV secretion system: A complex protein apparatus used by some bacteria to transfer effector molecules into host cells.

Fluorescent antibody technique: A laboratory method that uses fluorescent-labeled antibodies to detect specific antigens in samples.