Pathogens use force to breach immune defenses, study finds

Pathogens use physical force: The research reveals that certain pathogens employ physical force during their entry into host cells, diverting them away from the body's immune defenses.

Immune evasion mechanism: Unlike the conventional belief that pathogens release chemical substances to paralyze immune cells, this study demonstrates that physical force helps pathogens evade degradation.

Potential game-changer: This discovery introduces a new approach to combatting intracellular infections caused by pathogens, such as tuberculosis, malaria, and chlamydia, which are traditionally challenging to treat.

Toxoplasma parasite as a model: The researchers used the Toxoplasma parasite to illustrate the forceful entry of pathogens into host cells and their survival within immune cells.

Targeting pathogen motility: The study suggests that targeting the motility of pathogens may provide a promising strategy for developing innovative treatments for a range of infectious diseases harmful to human health.