Title: Relationships between Community Behavior and Pathogenesis in<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>
Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa can be isolated from soil, water, and the skin of healthy human beings. One of the many goals of this research has been to understand the key factors that allow P. aeruginosa to make this transition, in order to both combat and prevent infections. Much of this research has involved careful genetic and biochemical characterizations of the virulence factor in question. This chapter reviews some of P. aeruginosa virulence factors and the roles they are thought to play in pathogenesis. It is known that P. aeruginosa utilizes acyl-HSL quorum sensing to regulate virulence gene expression. The chapter reviews quorum sensing in this organism with an emphasis on quorum sensing-signal generation. In P. aeruginosa , quorum sensing has been shown to be involved in coordinating the community behavior required for the formation of these structures. The chapter addresses the role of biofilm formation in pathogenesis and its relationship to quorum sensing. The same study suggested that LasA protease might be vital for pathogenesis. Pyocyanin has also been implicated in impairing host defense mechanisms in chronic infection of the CF lung; however, the actual role pyocyanin plays in pathogenesis remains uncertain. P. aeruginosa is a formidable opportunistic human pathogen that possesses an arsenal of virulence factors. These factors are important for different aspects of pathogenesis, such as colonization and cytotoxicity.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-04-25
Language: en
Type: other
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 3
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