Legionnaires¿ disease, a potentially fatal type of pneumonia primarily affecting elderly and immuno-compromised persons, is caused by the ubiquitous environmental bacterium Legionella pneumophila. This book offers authoritative reviews of different facets of its virulence, focusing on comparative phagocyte infection, virulence gene regulation, biochemical functions of effector proteins and cellular pathogen-host interactions, as well as host responses and immunity to L. pneumophila. Taken together, the contributions in this compilation provide a state-of-the-art overview of current insights into the molecular pathogenesis of the opportunistic and potentially fatal pathogen L. pneumophila.

From amoeba to macrophages: exploring the molecular mechanisms of Legionella infection in both hosts.- The Legionella pneumophila two-component regulatory systems that participate in the regulation of Icm/Dot effectors.- Facets of small RNA-mediated regulation in Legionella pneumophila.- Type II secretion and Legionella virulence.- Effector translocation by the Legionella Icm/Dot type IV secretion system.- Modulation of small GTPases by Legionella.- Host lipidation: A mechanism for spatial regulation of Legionella effectors.- Phosphoinositides and the Legionella pathogen vacuole.- Legionella phospholipases implicated in virulence.- Cytotoxic glucosyltransferases of Legionella pneumophila.- Modulation of the ubiquitination machinery by Legionella.- Host signal transduction and protein kinases implicated in Legionella infection.- Mouse models of Legionnaires¿ disease.