Interaction of bacteria with antigen presenting cells: influences on antigen presentation and antibacterial immunity

Macrophages and dendritic cells are phagocytic antigen-presenting cells involved in the immune response to bacteria, linking the innate and adaptive responses during bacterial infection. Antigens from bacteria are processed for presentation on MHC class II and MHC class I to stimulate CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. Many bacterial pathogens have developed strategies to interfere with the host’s capacity to mount an immune response by interfering with antigen processing pathways or otherwise modulating the adaptive immune response. Understanding the mechanisms bacteria use to avoid immune recognition may facilitate the development of new strategies to eradicate pathogens from infected hosts.