Pathogenicity and virulence of : Insights into host interactions, immune evasion, and intracellular survival.

is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections and infectious blindness worldwide. All species share a unique biphasic developmental cycle, alternating between infectious elementary bodies (EBs) and replicative reticulate bodies (RBs). The pathogenesis of is driven by a sophisticated arsenal of adhesins, conventional type III secretion system effector proteins, and inclusion membrane proteins that subvert host cellular processes to establish infection and promote survival. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms underlying infection, focusing on key stages of its developmental cycle, including adhesion, invasion, replication, and egress. We delve into its interactions with host cytoskeletal structures, immune signaling pathways, and intracellular trafficking systems, as well as its strategies for immune evasion and persistence. Understanding these mechanisms offers critical insights into pathogenesis and identifies promising avenues for therapeutic and vaccine development.