Pathogens hijack monocyte differentiation
Pathogens exploit monocyte plasticity to subvert immune defenses and promote persistence.
Viruses such as HIV and human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) manipulate monocyte differentiation through transcriptional, and cytokine signaling pathways.
Bacterial pathogens such as Bordetella pertussis reprogram monocyte fate through hijacking of metabolic and chromatin remodeling mechanisms.
Fungi such as Candida albicans use structural components to skew monocyte to dendritic cell (DC) differentiation and suppress Th1 immune responses.
Understanding pathogen-driven monocyte manipulation reveals novel therapeutic targets to restore immune competence.
https://www.cell.com/trends/microbiology/fulltext/S0966-842X(25)00362-2
