Cell entry and the pathogenesis of Bartonella infections.

Erythrocyte parasitism, or hemotrophy, is not a common strategy for bacteria. However, Bartonella species are elegantly adapted to parasitize a variety of cell types including red blood cells. Bartonella bacilliformis, a useful model organism for the genus, has been used to study virulence determinants involved in colonization, attachment and invasion of host cells.