ALGINATE SYNTHESIS BY PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA - A KEY PATHOGENIC FACTOR IN CHRONIC PULMONARY INFECTIONS OF CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

被引:239
作者
MAY, TB [1 ]
SHINABARGER, D [1 ]
MAHARAJ, R [1 ]
KATO, J [1 ]
CHU, L [1 ]
DEVAULT, JD [1 ]
ROYCHOUDHURY, S [1 ]
ZIELINSKI, NA [1 ]
BERRY, A [1 ]
ROTHMEL, RK [1 ]
MISRA, TK [1 ]
CHAKRABARTY, AM [1 ]
机构
[1] UNIV ILLINOIS,COLL MED,DEPT MICROBIOL & IMMUNOL,CHICAGO,IL 60612
关键词
D O I
10.1128/CMR.4.2.191-206.1991
中图分类号
Q93 [微生物学];
学科分类号
071005 ; 100705 ;
摘要
Pulmonary infection by mucoid, alginate-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the leading cause of mortality among patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. Alginate-producing P. aeruginosa is uniquely associated with the environment of the cystic fibrosis-affected lung, where alginate is believed to increase resistance to both the host immune system and antibiotic therapy. Recent evidence indicates that P. aeruginosa is most resistant to antibiotics when the infecting cells are present as a biofilm, as they appear to be in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients. Inhibition of the protective alginate barrier with nontoxic compounds targeted against alginate biosynthetic and regulatory proteins may prove useful in eradicating P. aeruginosa from this environment. Our research has dealth with elucidating the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanism(s) responsible for alginate synthesis by P. aeruginosa. This review summarizes reports on the role of alginate in cystic fibrosis-associated pulmonary infections caused by P. aeruginosa and provides details aabout the biosynthesis and regulation of this exopolysaccharide.
引用
收藏
页码:191 / 206
页数:16
相关论文
empty
未找到相关数据