A. phagocytophilum hijacks free cholesterol from NPC1 vesicles on the way to Trans-Golgi network. Blue arrows indicate vesicular and cholesterol traffic pathways in uninfected cells. Red arrows indicate vesicular and cholesterol traffic pathways induced by Anaplasma infection. Yellow dot, non-esterified cholesterol; orange ball (esterified cholesterol) in LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and LD (lipid droplet); LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; EE, early endosome; LE, late endosome; LY, lysosome; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; SREBP, sterol regulatory element-binding protein.