How and why do pathogenic bacteria enter host cells?

Answer 1

Pathogenic bacteria enter host cells basically for "food and shelter", and to hide from the host's immune system. Under normal circumstances, the phagocytic cells of the immune system engulf the bacteria and/or tag them for destruction by other means. This keeps the bacteria away from other cells. Studies indicate however, that pathogenic bacteria enter non-phagocytic cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. The bacterium has a surface protein that a protein on the host cell recognizes. The cell is then fooled into believeing that the bacterial protein is one that needs to be destroyed or recycled. Since the cell's protein destruction machinery is inside the cell, it brings the bacterium into the cell via endocytosis. And the rest is history!

Answer 2

when the bacteria enters the host it finds a target cell... it will then attach to the target cell and inject its DNA into the cell destroying the cells actual DNA.... so when the cell makes copies of what it thinks is its DNA it is really producing more bacterial DNA and it will destroy more cells until antibiotics are ingested

Answer 3

Pathogenic bacteria can enter host cells through mechanisms such as endocytosis, injection of virulence factors, or by exploiting cell surface receptors. Once inside the host cell, bacteria can evade the immune response, replicate, and cause damage. This allows them to establish infections and spread within the host.