Dictyostelium discoideum in Biomedical Research

discoideum cells can feed only on non-virulent strains of L. pneumophila, which are rapidly degraded and killed by the amoebae. By contrast, D. discoideum cells are themselves being killed by virulent strains of I. pneumophila by a combination of cytotoxicity and continued intracellular growth, which supports the hypothesis 

Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast-like fungus that can cause subacute or chronic meningoencephalitis (cryptococcosis) in individuals with impaired immunity. C. neoformans can infect D. discoideum, and the mechanisms of interaction between D. discoideum and the pathogen seem to be similar to interactions of C. neoformans with predators of their natural environment (Acanthamoeha) or human macrophages [135]. D. discoideum cells are readily infected and killed by virulent strains of C. neoformans, whereas avirulent C. neoformans strains are ingested and killed by D. discoideum amoebae [135]. Although inactivation of myosin VII is known to impair phagocytosis [136], D. discoideum mutants 

In previous sections we have emphasized the power of reporter gene expression under the control of native D. discoideum promo- 

In addition to being valuable as a cell system for the pre-screening of future bio- 

Dictyostelium discoideum is a microbial organism that can, within its limits, significantly contribute to biopharmaceutical and biomedical research. As a true eukaryote, D. discoideum can offer critical properties 

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