Hijacking and use of host lipids by intracellular pathogens

"Lipids" is the inclusive name for a complex group of molecules composed predominantly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (also nitrogen and phosphorus) that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They are characterized as being hydrophobic or amphiphilic. Lipids include fatty acids, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, glycolipids, sterols, polyketides, and prenol lipids. The structures of the lipids discussed in this review are shown in Fig. 1. The functions of lipids were thought to be limited to being structural components of cell membranes and to being the main form of energy storage in cells. Aside from these important functions, lipids participate in key biological processes that include signaling, organization of the membrane, and trafficking from the membrane to the cytosol. In addition, lipid disorders are key to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and other metabolic disorders.