text: One of the metabolites that R. rickettsii uses from its host cell in order to synthesize peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharides is a sugar called UDP-N-acetyl-α-d-glucosamine. Other metabolites that are needed for this cell to survive within the host cell are imported glutamine, glutamate, and malate. These are used to regulate the flow of acetyl-CoA, which is synthesized from pyruvate that the bacteria also takes from the host cell. Overall, R. rickettsii has a genome that does not encode many of the enzymes and proteins that are required for several pathways besides the TCA cycle. These bacteria import many of the intermediates, cofactors, and byproducts from the host cells' metabolic pathways to use for their own benefit and synthesis of necessary structures and energy for survival.
  Morphology
  R. rickettsii  has many vital proteins within its cellular membranes. One of these proteins is YbgF, which maintains the structure of the cellular membrane. YbgF is found within both the inner and outer membranes along with another protein called TolC. TolC is a transport protein that connects to other transport proteins within the periplasmic space and inner membrane. These two proteins are believed to be associated with pathogenicity of this microbe and serve as specific points that antibodies can bind to in order to prevent the bacteria from interacting with host cells.