Programmed necrosis in microbial pathogenesis

• Programmed necrosis is an emerging component of host–pathogen interactions.
• Viruses and bacteria trigger programmed necrosis via multiple pathways.
• Programmed necrosis can be an effective host response or a pathogen strategy for exploitation.
• Pathogen-induced necrosis influences virulence and disease pathology.

Programmed cell death is an important facet of host–pathogen interactions. Although apoptosis has long been implicated as the major form of programmed cell death in host defense, the past decade has seen the emergence of other forms of regulated death, including programmed necrosis. While the molecular mechanisms of programmed necrosis continue to be unveiled, an increasing number of viral and bacterial pathogens induce this form of death in host cells, with important consequences for infection, control, and pathogenesis. Moreover, pathogen strategies to manipulate or utilize this pathway are now being discovered. In this review, we focus on a variety of viral and bacterial pathogens where a role for programmed necrosis is starting to be appreciated. In particular, we focus on the mechanistic details of how the host or the pathogen might appropriate this pathway for its own benefit.