A group of pathogens has chosen the interior of host cells as preferred biotope. These microbes cause infectious diseases of global importance such as tuberculosis, leprosy, typhoid, listeriosis, Legionnaire's disease, malaria, leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease and toxoplasmosis. Frequently, the course of infection is long-lasting eventually resulting in chronic disease. During their intracellular living, these pathogens intensively interact with parasitized host cells. Moreover, because of their intracellular life style these microbes are well shielded from humoral attack, and protection crucially depends on T lymphocytes. This volume provides an updated overview of the multifacetted crosstalk of intracellular pathogens with parasitized host cells and immune system.
