Filipe, Sérgio Joaquim RaposoCovas, Gonçalo2020-06-042023-05-312020-05-052019-12http://hdl.handle.net/10362/98834"Bacteria are able to establish relationships with other organisms, which may be temporary, as in a bacterial infection, or long-term, as in symbiosis. From the interplay between different organisms emerged the concept of “identity”, i.e. the need to distinguish “self” from “non-self”. Multicellular organisms have developed immune systems responsible for the detection of “non-self” organisms that lead to the activation of appropriate responses to maintain the organism in a state of homeostasis. In opposition, bacteria have developed mechanisms (virulence factors) to avoid their identification as harmful, in order to assure their survival within the host. (...)"engS. aureusbacterial modeldoctoral thesis