Lysis from within

Inside-out lysis of the host cell by the pathogen

E. ruminantium is also capable of escaping host cells by lysis of its resident vacuole and host plasma membranes, followed by subsequent release of free bacteria into the extracellular compartment. For obligate intracellular pathogens, lysis is a biological process that is tightly regulated. We are using functional genomics and cellular biology to identify key players and signaling pathways involved in this process.