Why should cell biologists study microbial pathogens?

Welch, Matthew D.

In writing this Perspective, I hope to encourage cell biologists to study pathogens by collaborating with pathogenesis researchers or incorporating work on infectious diseases into their own research programs. Such investigations might focus on well-known pathogens or new and emerging infectious agents. The motivation may be a desire to reveal new biological principles or to better understand and treat important diseases. Regardless of the choice of pathogen or source of motivation, future studies by cell biologists will uncover new ways in which pathogens influence host cell pathways and structures, and new cell biological mechanisms that operate under normal circumstances and in various disease states. Future studies will also contribute to the development of new vaccines and drugs that target host cell proteins to prevent or treat infections. Therefore basic and translational research at the interface between microbiology, cell biology, and immunology will be an increasingly important source of information and innovation relevant to biology in general and infectious disease in particular.