[eng] An association between bacteria and tumorigenesis has been long established.
Recent studies have identified intracellular bacteria within cancer cells, including
melanoma, although its role in carcinogenesis remains unclear. In the context of
melanoma, it can be speculated whether intracellular bacteria could interfere with
the host cell signaling pathways and, consequently, contribute to melanoma
development. In this review, the main signaling pathways in melanomagenesis
and melanogenesis are summarized and correlated with intracellular bacteriainduced mechanisms that could trigger or influence tumorigenesis at different
levels. Although several mechanisms were compatible, the evidence so far has
identified Bartonella henselae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Mycoplasma hyorhinis,
and Staphylococcus aureus within melanoma cells. It remains a hypothesis
whether these bacteria could be involved in melanomagenesis. At present, no
pro-melanoma interference between these intracellular bacteria and the
eukaryotic niche has been demonstrated per se; thus, further studies are needed.