Bacterial flagellin—a potent immunomodulatory agent.
- Author:
Irshad A HAJAM
1
;
Pervaiz A DAR
;
Imam SHAHNAWAZ
;
Juan Carlos JAUME
;
John Hwa LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- MeSH: Arm; Flagella; Flagellin; Immune System; Virulence
- From:Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2017;49(9):e373-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Flagellin is a subunit protein of the flagellum, a whip-like appendage that enables bacterial motility. Traditionally, flagellin was viewed as a virulence factor that contributes to the adhesion and invasion of host cells, but now it has emerged as a potent immune activator, shaping both the innate and adaptive arms of immunity during microbial infections. In this review, we summarize our understanding of bacterial flagellin and host immune system interactions and the role flagellin as an adjuvant, anti-tumor and radioprotective agent, and we address important areas of future research interests.
